Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire. I absolutely agree with him. We mentioned Dublin earlier, but Cork also needs a sustainable transport system. The Cork metropolitan area transport strategy, CMATS, takes the right approach. It adopts a multi-modal approach to transport planning, provides the necessary evidence-based and plan-led framework and is an example of good long-term planning.

Now that we have the strategy, we have to move on to implementation. I am glad to say that a number of important steps are already under way in that regard, while the review of the national development plan will also have an important role to play. The CMATS was published earlier this year and includes a number of significant public transport proposals across bus, commuter rail and light rail as well as a proposed transformation of active travel infrastructure in the city region.

The Deputy specifically referred to bus rapid transit. He will be aware that the approach adopted for buses in the CMATS is similar to that proposed in Dublin, namely, the delivery of a BusConnects Cork programme of improved bus and active travel infrastructure. BusConnects is not only about making the bus system better, it is about completely transforming Cork's potential. Complementing that investment, it is also proposed to develop a light rail service running on an east to west corridor across the city and, in advance of its introduction, BusConnects Cork will deliver a high-capacity, high-frequency bus corridor along the route.

I will go into the detail of that proposal, if I may. We would hope that the route from Ballincollig would take in Cork Institute of Technology, Cork University Hospital, University College Cork and would go right through the centre, the business district and out towards Blackrock and Mahon via the docks. This would connect a great many key areas and desired lines.

We should accelerate and look to advance this good CMATS. It would be the councillors who have to decide this but I do not see why we could not introduce this high quality bus rapid transport route along that corridor in advance of the light rail going in. We could build up the demand and give the signal to developers that this is where to go. The council has to row in behind this. I had a good meeting last week with Cork city councillors and I think they are ready for it.

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