Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

I raise the Cork city task force. As we know, the programme for Government provides for the establishment of a task force for Cork city. Like all urban areas, Cork city needs renewed focus, funding, resources, collaboration between key stakeholders, and short-, medium- and long-term planning. I hope the task force will address issues around public realm, streetscape, urban design and investment in our urban design in Cork city. Safety on the streets of Cork city is a significant issue. This not only relates to Garda numbers, but also to how the city is designed and laid out. That is critical when it comes to safety issues, as are connectivity, transportation links to the city, vacancy, dereliction and so on. Can we get an update on the establishment of the Cork city task force? It is important. Cork City Council will play a critical role in this as it moves forward and I hope we can get a clear, concrete indication today about the establishment of the task force, which is in the programme for Government.

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