Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The section we are dealing with now is fundamental to where we are going. Project Ireland 2040's provision for both the city and county of Cork is about expanding the city. As the Senator said, it is also about ensuring that we do not create a doughnut effect. As mentioned last night, we will almost build a new city from Navigation House down to Páirc Uí Chaoimh, along Monahan Road and Centre Park Road and taking in the old Ford and Dunlop site. We have a fundamental difficulty in that remediation works will be costly and difficult at the Seveso sites. I never thought I would say this, but the need for the implementation oversight group is critical. If I understand Senator O'Sullivan's amendment correctly it is about a review, but by my interpretation the review is not about monitoring the progress. We need the progress to be monitored.

The ambitious plans for Cork under project Ireland 2040 are about shifting the balance away from Dublin. They are about creating an opportunity for the metropolitan region along with the county of Cork to flourish and develop. Given the importance and centrality of our education sectors and the pharmaceutical and technology sectors represented by Dell and Apple, the future for Cork can be very good. Indeed it will be, but it is based on monitoring the implementation plan rather than reviewing it.