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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Cork active travel funding disparity

Summary

Deputy Gould said active travel funding favoured Cork's south side over the north side and produced stark project and spending disparities. The Taoiseach said he did not know the reason, suggested it might relate to what local authorities had submitted, and promised to ask the Transport Minister to reply.

I have just received the figures for the active travel funding that was announced today and they are absolutely shocking. I raised this issue last year. I will give some detail. Last year in Cork 31 active travel projects worth €16 million were funded on the south side of the city, and on the north side of the city 12 projects worth €6 million were funded. That is €10 million less and 19 fewer projects. It was announced today that 42 projects worth €14 million will be funded on the south side of the city and 22 projects worth €6 million will be funded on the north side. The average cost is €336,000 for projects on the south side but only €282,000 on the north side. I will ask a question on behalf of the people of Cork North-Central. Why are we being treated like second class citizens when it comes to funding on the north side? It is the same every year. The figures are there. They stand for themselves. Deputy Varadkar is the Taoiseach. Will he explain this to me so that I can go back to my constituents and tell them why the north side is being neglected and why the Government is doing it?

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Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

I appreciate the disparity the Deputy has outlined. The short answer is that I do not know. I will need to ask the Minister for Transport to revert to the Deputy on it. Sometimes the reason is the projects that are put forward. I am not saying that is the reason. It is the responsibility of the local authority to put forward the projects. They cannot be funded unless they are put forward. It might be the case that the projects put forward were not strong enough or that there were not enough projects put forward for the north side of the city. I honestly do not know if that is the case. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to come back to the Deputy.

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The Taoiseach should come to Cork with me. He will see the difference between the two sides.

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