Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

The redevelopment of Cork docklands was identified as a priority project in the National Development Plan 2007-2013 and the National Spatial Strategy 2002-2020. As Ireland's second city, Cork has the potential to create a second major node of development in Ireland, both by itself and as a key linked gateway city along the Atlantic gateway corridor.

Located in the heart of the city centre, the 160 hectare docklands offer the prospect of developing a modern, mixed use city quarter. Current plans anticipate that over a 20 year period, the docklands could cater for a population of some 22,000, through the provision of over 9,500 residential units, including nearly 2,000 social and affordable units. It is estimated that this regeneration project could sustain approximately 27,000 new jobs, in retail and financial services, industry, ICT, higher-level educational institutions and leisure and cultural activities.

Following considerable work by Cork City Council, and recognising that the project could be of national and international significance, the Government established the Cork docklands development forum in December 2007. The role of the forum was to promote the effective co-ordination and delivery of sustainable investment by the State in key infrastructure to facilitate docklands regeneration, so as to incentivise private investment towards realising the Cork docklands vision. The forum was also tasked with addressing options relating to incentives to overcome barriers to the development of the area.

The Cork forum submitted its report in July 2008, setting out a policy and economic rationale for the regeneration project. Among its outputs were: identification of economic and other drivers essential to the realisation of the vision for the area; identification and costing of critical public infrastructure required over the lifetime of the project — out to 2027, at least — to underpin subsequent private investment; consideration of significant constraints and barriers to the intended redevelopment; consideration of how this redevelopment might be incentivised; and recommendations regarding institutional arrangements to bring the project forward.

The report envisaged significant investment in public infrastructure, including the proposed eastern gateway bridge, as well as possible supports for relocation of port and other activities. While funding decisions relating to the bridge and other related projects under the gateway innovation fund have been deferred, the Finance Bill 2009 provides for a new tax incentive scheme to facilitate the relocation of Seveso-listed industrial facilities that hinder the regeneration of docklands in urban areas. This scheme is subject to European Commission clearance regarding compliance with state aid rules.

In light of current economic and budgetary constraints, the House will appreciate that a report of this nature, which provides a long-term perspective for development of a key gateway site, requires careful and ongoing consideration. The Government established an interdepartmental group, chaired by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, to consider the analysis and recommendations in the report. The group is considering appropriate actions to move this project forward, including the question of publishing the forum's report.

The Government remains firmly committed to development of key city centre sites in the gateway cities and recognises the potential and the opportunities afforded by the Cork docklands development project. Cork City Council has established a special directorate to co-ordinate and promote delivery of the docklands project, as well as a docklands policy committee comprising six councillors. The directorate has extensive interaction with relevant stakeholders, including property owners, developers, public agencies and other stakeholders, as well as with the main Departments represented on the interdepartmental group. The city council is also working closely with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government as the Cork docklands are one of the strategically located developing areas under the Government's developing areas initiative.