Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach for again allowing me to raise the issue of the publication of the Cork docklands forum report. The development of the Cork docklands is critical in terms of infrastructure and employment. Cork is the country's second city and, under the national spatial strategy, a gateway city. It is the obvious counterfoil to Dublin.

In 2007, the Government established the Cork Docklands Development Forum, and herein lies the tale. The forum's report, now completed, is lying in the Minister of State's Department. Cork City Council has done all the preparatory work, namely, the establishment of different fora, reports, task forces and a directorate to ready the docklands for development. The project has the potential to create approximately 20,000 jobs in the city and to be a stimulus to propel Cork forward. The area is the last available land for the development and regeneration of Cork city.

Why has the forum's report not been published? Of what is the Government afraid and from what is the Minister, Deputy Gormley, hiding? We have been given different dates for the report's publication. Last October, I raised the matter by way of an Adjournment debate and the House was told that the report had been submitted in July 2008. Subsequently, I was told that an interdepartmental group would meet and publish a response to the report. Has it met, what was the nature of the meeting, has the group concluded its deliberations and has it reported to the Minister?

Through the construction of the eastern gateway bridge, the docklands will be an opportunity to bring Cork forward. At a time when unemployment in the city is staggeringly high, the development would afford us an opportunity to regenerate Cork, the only city with a decreasing population. It is necessary for Cork that the docklands are developed. Movement is necessary and Government commitment to infrastructural development is vital. There has been a lot of debate on the docklands and much debate will continue on who will drive the project forward, be it the city council or a newly created powerful agency, which is a contentious point.

At a time of economic recession, every opportunity must be taken to allow Cork to develop. This project is of paramount importance and investment is necessary.

Publication of this report will be a trigger for the redevelopment of Cork. I have a copy of the leaked report with me in the Chamber. It was published in a national newspaper. The Minister will see that the report is a huge tome. If I and journalists can get a copy of the report, why can it not be published by the Government? I appreciate that this does not relate to the Minister of State's Department and that she is deputising for the Minister, but I look forward to her reply.

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The redevelopment of Cork docklands was identified as a priority project in the National Development Plan 2007-2013 and the National Spatial Strategy 2002-2020. As Ireland's second city, Cork has the potential to create a second major node of development in Ireland, both by itself and as a key linked gateway city along the Atlantic gateway corridor.

Located in the heart of the city centre, the 160 hectare docklands offer the prospect of developing a modern, mixed use city quarter. Current plans anticipate that over a 20 year period, the docklands could cater for a population of some 22,000, through the provision of over 9,500 residential units, including nearly 2,000 social and affordable units. It is estimated that this regeneration project could sustain approximately 27,000 new jobs, in retail and financial services, industry, ICT, higher-level educational institutions and leisure and cultural activities.

Following considerable work by Cork City Council, and recognising that the project could be of national and international significance, the Government established the Cork docklands development forum in December 2007. The role of the forum was to promote the effective co-ordination and delivery of sustainable investment by the State in key infrastructure to facilitate docklands regeneration, so as to incentivise private investment towards realising the Cork docklands vision. The forum was also tasked with addressing options relating to incentives to overcome barriers to the development of the area.

The Cork forum submitted its report in July 2008, setting out a policy and economic rationale for the regeneration project. Among its outputs were: identification of economic and other drivers essential to the realisation of the vision for the area; identification and costing of critical public infrastructure required over the lifetime of the project — out to 2027, at least — to underpin subsequent private investment; consideration of significant constraints and barriers to the intended redevelopment; 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, as well as possible supports for relocation of port and other activities. While funding decisions relating to the bridge and other related projects under the gateway innovation fund have been deferred, the Finance Bill 2009 provides for a new tax incentive scheme to facilitate the relocation of Seveso-listed industrial facilities that hinder the regeneration of docklands in urban areas. This scheme is subject to European Commission clearance regarding compliance with state aid rules.

In light of current economic and budgetary constraints, the House will appreciate that a report of this nature, which provides a long-term perspective for development of a key gateway site, requires careful and ongoing consideration. The Government established an interdepartmental group, chaired by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, to consider the analysis and recommendations in the report. The group is considering appropriate actions to move this project forward, including the question of publishing the forum's report.

The Government remains firmly committed to development of key city centre sites in the gateway cities and recognises the potential and the opportunities afforded by the Cork docklands development project. Cork City Council has established a special directorate to co-ordinate and promote delivery of the docklands project, as well as a docklands policy committee comprising six councillors. The directorate has extensive interaction with relevant stakeholders, including property owners, developers, public agencies and other stakeholders, as well as with the main Departments represented on the interdepartmental group. The city council is also working closely with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government as the Cork docklands are one of the strategically located developing areas under the Government's developing areas initiative.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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With respect, the reply from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is not satisfactory. It is an appalling response from a Government that has had 11 months to peruse, deliberate on and arrive at "an appropriate response" to the report. Why is there a question about the publication of the forum report?

I accept this is not the Minister's Department but the reply is a disgrace. It made no attempt to explain why the report has not been published, when it will be published and whether the Government is serious about the Cork docklands. We already knew everything in the reply, aside from two paragraphs. It is unacceptable that I have this report with me tonight even though it is unpublished and there is no guarantee that it will be published. I ask the Minister of State to speak to the Minister, Deputy John Gormley, and ask him to set a time for the report to be published. This is vital. The reply I received tonight is an insult to the people of Cork. I do not blame the Minister of State, Deputy Áine Brady, as it is not her Department.