Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is about the review of the area plans within the city and county. It is important the local authorities do it once the change occurs in 2019. In fairness, there will now be a different focus. It is important as plans that would have been dealt with by the county may not now fit into the overall plan for the city; likewise, plans for the area not brought into the city will see a different emphasis.

I referred earlier to the land use and transportation study, LUTS, of the 1970s. There was also the Cork area strategic plan, CASP. There is a need for both local authorities, as well as the university, port facilities and all relevant institutions in Cork to work together on a long-term plan on how the city and county will grow. For example, Monard is not coming into the city and there is a proposal for it to be developed. It is staying in the county and it would be a totally new town in the same way as we created a new town in Ballincollig and Carrigaline. It is important that both local authorities work together on their plans and how the region develops. The LUTS plan put all the emphasis on places like Blarney, Glanmire, Ballincollig and Carrigaline developing. Now the county will look at new areas to develop and one of those is Monard. It is important that whatever development takes place will also see an input from the city as well as the county, although Monard is staying in the county. We must think similarly about the towns the county decides to now grow.

I travel to Mallow early in the morning at 5.30 a.m. or .5.45 a.m. and the volume of the traffic coming towards the city even at that time is huge. People live in Mallow but the jobs are not there. It is important that when we do a long-term plan, we must ensure that as well as putting residential areas in county towns, we put in jobs as well, therefore reducing the level of travelling that people do. It is extremely important.