Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Buttimer for the opportunity to restate the Government's firm commitment to the development of key city centre sites in the gateway cities and its recognition of the significant potential and opportunities afforded by the Cork docklands development project. The redevelopment of Cork docklands has been identified as a priority project in the 2002 national spatial strategy, the 2006 gateway investment priority study and more recently in the national development plan 2007-13, acknowledging the significant potential to accelerate the city's growth through targeted investment in regenerating the docklands area by means of roads, bridges, public transport and water services, which will in turn trigger private development and investment.

As Ireland's second city, Cork has the potential to create a second major internationally competitive node of development in Ireland, both by itself and as a key linked gateway city along the Atlantic gateway corridor. Building on the significant progress and planning made by the two councils under the Cork area strategic plan, the Government established the Cork Docklands Development Forum in 2007. It was tasked with promoting effective co-ordination and delivery of sustainable investment by the State in key infrastructure to facilitate and realise docklands regeneration. The forum also addressed options for incentives to overcome barriers to development of the area. The forum submitted its report last year, setting out the policy and economic rationale for the regeneration project. Among its outputs were identification of economic and other drivers essential to realising the docklands vision; identification and costing of critical public infrastructure required over the lifetime of the project, to at least 2027, to underpin subsequent private investment; consideration of significant constraints on barriers to the intended development; 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 and link roads as well as possible supports for the relocation of port and other activities. While funding decisions on the bridge and the port relocation projects submitted under the gateway innovation fund have been deferred, the Finance Bill 2009 provided for a tax incentive scheme to solicit the relocation of Seveso-listed industrial facilities that hinder the regeneration of docklands in urban areas. The scheme is subject to European Commission clearance regarding compliance with State aid rules.

The Government has committed significant resources in the Cork area to improve water services, under the Department's water services investment programme and the enhancement of public transport services under Transport 21. Furthermore my Department is continuing to work closely with the councils and, in particular, with the special directorate and docklands policy committee to move the project forward.

The Cork docklands area has also been designated as one of the strategically located developing areas under the Government's developing areas initiative. The Government remains fully behind the redevelopment of the Cork docklands as a means to creating a sustainable and compact urban city that would be attractive to prospective investment and its residents. The interdepartmental group established by the Government and chaired by my Department to consider the analysis and recommendations in the report is urgently considering the enabling measures that can be put in place to progress development in the Cork docklands.