Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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108. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to consider initialising a further phase of the Cork Luas project (details supplied). [34025/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS) sets out a framework for transport development in the Cork Metropolitan Area up to 2040. The National Transport Authority (NTA) developed CMATS in collaboration with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), Cork City Council, and Cork County Council. A key principle for CMATS is to reduce dependency on the private car within the Cork commuter area, while increasing the appeal of sustainable transport options, such as Cork Area Commuter Rail, BusConnects Cork, active travel, and light rail.

Following detailed analysis of projected travel demand, CMATS established that an east-west alignment, extending from Ballingcollig in the west to Mahon in the east would be the appropriate corridor for light rail. The emerging preferred route for Cork Light Rail, or Luas Cork, runs from Ballincollig to Mahon Point, connecting key destinations such as Munster Technological University, Cork University Hospital, University College Cork, Cork city centre, Kent Station, Cork Docklands, Blackrock and Mahon.

A north-south corridor to be served by light area was not identified in CMATS, published in 2020. It should be noted however, that the metropolitan area transport strategies consider the whole functional area of the five cities, they have a 20-year horizon and are subject to review every six years. While the current focus is on the Luas Cork project along the east-west corridor, the project is being developed so that expansion can be considered in the future.