Laura Harmon (Labour)

I welcome the Minister. It is great to have him here. I want to focus on Cork. The national planning framework 2040 anticipates that Cork will become the fastest growing city region in Ireland, with a projected 50% to 60% increase in its population by 2040. This increased demand must be supported by travel infrastructure. In order to decarbonise and create a more connected city, the Government must deliver more active transport and a stronger bus network. The publication of the preferred Luas route for Cork was welcome. The Labour Party is calling for shovels in the ground by 2030 in respect of this project. We do not want to see long delays. It must be delivered in a timely manner for the people of Cork. Over the past year, public confidence in the bus service in Cork has been at an all-time low in terms of delays in the service.There is an unfortunate overreliance on the car which leads to congestion and parking issues within the city. This is compounded by the huge driving test waiting lists we have in Cork. Over 11,500 people were on the waiting list the last time I checked and this is something that needs to be addressed by this Government. We have people undertaking apprenticeships and working in healthcare and education who need to be able to utilise a car to get from A to B, so that is part of the problem, unfortunately. Expanding cycle paths and the public bike network will be critical to improving our active travel infrastructure. Cork Airport is a huge asset to the southern region and needs to be supported and developed sustainably, along with Shannon Airport.

I have come from the Raise the Roof rally outside Leinster House where thousands of people are calling for actions from this Government on housing. When we talk about infrastructure we have to mention housing as well. With particular respect to Cork, I was really struck by figures which I raised with the Minister for further and higher education showing that only 18% of the student accommodation in Cork is in public ownership compared with 44% in Dublin, 36% in Galway and 56% in Limerick. We need to focus on this and on the development of more housing in general. In March of this year the Minister for housing allocated funding of €35 million to build 234 units of social housing in Cork city and county. This is obviously very welcome but as part of the delivery of that we need to invest in infrastructure such as roads connectivity, water and pedestrian facilities as well. Of course we need to invest in the tenant in situ scheme countrywide, with Cork as part of that.

I will leave it there but I welcome the Minister.