Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for attending. This is an important debate in that the national spatial strategy was published with great fanfare. Undoubtedly, its implementation presents a huge challenge, given that we now exist in a different world than when it was launched eight years ago. What have we achieved since? We can see tangible results in the case of the Cork-Dublin motorway, while Senators have referred to other developments. This is to be welcomed, although one could argue motorists are paying for it through the payment of tolls. There is a proposal which I hope will not be implemented that further tolls be introduced on the Cork-Dublin motorway and the M50.

The commitment to the regions is very important. To be parochial, County Cork must be the major driving force in the promotion, development and expansion of commercial life, as Cork Chamber of Commerce put it, but also in the creation of sustainable communities in the south. There are nearly 1,000 businesses and 82,000 employees in the Cork Chamber of Commerce area, an indication of the potential of Cork in providing a great business and investment opportunity. However, it is not all about money or funding. There must be a clear and meaningful commitment to the devolution of power to local and regional authorities. This will require consensus - the buzz word in Irish politics currently - but it will also require political will.

In a fine speech Senator Dearey referred to the axis in his area between north and south. As a Corkman, I have a major worry that we are taking about an axis between the north and east or west to the detriment of the south, by which I mean Cork. I very much welcome the realignment with our fellow citizens in the North. However, this cannot be done at the expense of the southern region. If we are to encourage investment and entrepreneurship in the creation of jobs, it is critical that the Cork and Munster region is vibrant. This will require support for the airport and sustainable transport links and mean setting and meeting targets.

In his excellent remarks Senator Donohoe referred to broadband, as did Senator Hannigan. It is not good enough in 2010 that one cannot access broadband not just in rural Ireland but also in parts of Cork city. How are we to be taken seriously in developing business and creating jobs in the region if people cannot access broadband?

I appreciate the difficulties we all face politically, but we need a stimulus to drive the economy, create jobs and give people hope and optimism. However this can be found, it must be found. I do not necessarily subscribe to President Obama's philosophy, that, as someone said yesterday, one could find billions of dollars in the Grand Canyon as a consequence of his two years in power. On page 28 of the strategy it is acknowledged that Cork City Council and Cork County Council adopted the Cork area strategic plan, CASP, in 2001. I was a member of the relevant group for what was a land use and transportation study and which outlined a very good strategy for metropolitan Cork. At the risk of annoying my county council brethren, it makes a strong case for the expansion of the Cork city boundary.

Although I accept I am being parochial, if we are to consider the development of the Cork region, the use of the gateway innovation fund, to which Senator Dearey referred, will be required. There is a project in Cork encompassing the eastern gateway bridge to the docklands which will be one of the principal drivers in the regeneration of Cork city and was included in the 2007 development plan and national spatial strategy. It involves the use of 160 hectares of land with the potential to bring 22,000 people into the city, create residential units, including social and affordable housing, and create 27,000 new jobs. While I admit the project was proposed before the collapse, we must have an aspiration and hang our hats on hope.

One of the biggest mistakes made by Government prior to the collapse of the economy was not to prioritise the regeneration of the Cork docklands. That is regrettable and the blame for it must be apportioned across the board. Private investors were willing and ready, but the Cork docklands report was not published. We had procrastination from Government and now the people of the Cork city are moving out to suburbia. The result, and the Green Party has a role to play in Government in this regard, is that there is an increase in traffic congestion and people live in high density housing with few amenities or services provided by local authorities. What is provided comes from voluntary and sporting organisations. Parents, workers and their families are stuck in their cars longer and the quality of their lives deteriorates. We end up with traffic gridlock as people converge on the city from Grange, Donnybrook, Frankfield, Douglas, Carrigaline and Bishopstown. I accept Senator Dearey's bona fides, but if the Green Party is serious about creating sustainable communities, we must have sustainable public transport and be serious about taking cars off the road. However, Bus Éireann is cutting back on services and reducing the number of routes and buses.

The N28, the Cork-Ringaskiddy road scheme, is more important now than ever because the Port of Cork proposes to move to Ringaskiddy. The local residents at Ringaskiddy rejected the proposal at the oral hearing because of the unsuitability of the N28 road infrastructure. If we are serious about connectivity and the ability to attract international businesses such as pharmaceutical industries, we must upgrade the N28. The Cork area transport study proposes a modern bus rapid transit system, suggests reconfiguration and expansion of our bus services and puts in place new traffic management structures. We must consider giving more autonomy to local regions in the area of public transport, but perhaps we can come back to this later.

The Minister of State and Senators Dearey and Donohoe referred to the role of the planning authority. We need to examine the role and functions of the planning authority and its relationship with those across the spectrum of special interests. A White Paper is due on local government, but we need to be ambitious and move beyond the 20th century view of local government. Let us be controversial, but at the same time let us be sensible. We can change local government and give it more power. We can make it exciting and meaningful and give councillors a greater role. We can create better relationships between managers and developers and change the whole playing field. The provision of a directly elected mayor for the city of Dublin is not reform of local government. Reform is more than this.

I hope we use the national spatial strategy to see Cork as the driving force for the regeneration of the south. It is the engine that can propel us forward and has potential. However, that requires commitment from Government. I hope the gateway innovation fund can be used to develop the eastern gateway bridge.