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

I assure the Deputy that there is no intention whatsoever to disadvantage the northside of Cork city versus the southside. If there are particular projects on the southside or elsewhere that are being advanced faster, that is a matter for Cork City Council in conjunction with the NTA. There is no Government strategy to try to disadvantage one versus the other.

I will make a general point. This is an issue for Cork City Council. Decisions around which projects are advanced and, therefore, which will get money are matters for the lowest political level, that is, the local council. We cannot manage the active travel programme or street decisions from central government. We need to empower local government. If there is a case for a stronger allocation for the northside of Cork city, it is for the councillors in those council wards to push the council and ensure they get political support for the actions we need to take. That is where the decisions that will accelerate the provision of projects on the northside will be made.

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