Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank you, a Chathaoirligh, for giving me the opportunity to raise this issue.

Cork docklands are a cornerstone of the future plans of Cork City Council, its elected councillors and its city officials, led by Mr. Pat Ledwidge and Mr. Joe Gavin, city manager. The development requires a clear commitment to deliver to Cork by, first, publishing the Cork Docklands Forum report and, second, providing funding for the eastern gateway bridge. In particular, it requires the publication of the report of the Cork Docklands Development Forum. It is extraordinary that the report was given to the Department and that we read about it in The Irish Times on 1 October before many of the stakeholders had seen it. The elected representatives of Cork City Council have not read it. I do not wish to take issue with the Government regard the leaking of the report but it is unfair and disingenuous to the people of Cork and those charged with representing them that it was not published.

Professor Wrixon, the chairman of the forum appointed by the Government, has included many interesting points in the report. However, we need the docklands site, which amounts to a massive 400 acres, to be developed. Why is there no report? Will it be available prior to the budget next Tuesday? Other Governments promised tax incentives and funding for the eastern gateway bridge in their budgets but they have not been realised. We were told provision would be made in Finance Bills but this has not happened. There has been complete silence from Fianna Fáil and the Green Party, which is worrying. The cynic in me suspects we might see nothing in the budget next week and that we will see no published report.

The Minister has an opportunity to kick-start economic development in the regions and in Cork. For some members of the Government, the country ends at the Red Cow roundabout at one end of the city and on the M1 near Dublin Airport at the other. Those of us who live beyond Dublin need to see the regions and Cork city developed. The docklands development is the last major development needed in Cork to "stimulate regional activity", as Cork Chamber put it. I look forward to the Minister of State's reply and hope he has good news for the people of Cork.