Cork Luas delivery and funding
Deputy Rice welcomed the preferred route for the Cork Luas but pressed for clarity on funding, a second route, and an opening date, warning against years of delay seen on other projects. The Tánaiste agreed on the need to drive infrastructure faster and said he would provide specific information later.
I also congratulate the students on winning the debating championship.
I welcome the emerging preferred route for the Cork Luas, but major questions remain. We do not know how much the Government intends to invest in this crucial project. We do not know if a second north-south route is planned. Crucially, we do not know when the Cork Luas will open. This project cannot be left like the Dublin metro, which has been delayed now by 25 years. There is a history of announcements of key infrastructure projects in Cork that are never delivered. These include the events centre, the new city library and the motorway to Limerick, and I could go on. Time and again, there are big announcements of infrastructure projects that are never delivered for our city. Cork urgently needs better public transport and we need it now.
I have three questions for the Tánaiste. Does the Government intend to build a second line connecting the northside of the city to the southern suburbs and the airport? How much has been allocated for this key project? Crucially, when will we see passengers on a Luas in Cork?
Comment on this
I thank Deputy Rice very much. I agree with him in general that we must come up with systems to drive forward infrastructure projects in a more timely manner. This is why we have set up the new infrastructure division of the Department of public expenditure and reform. I think we all hear this issue raised in our constituencies. To the people of Cork regarding the decisions we are taking, I would say that the Crawford Gallery is an example of a project that had been knocking around for quite a while. We took a big decision in that regard recently that I think is important. I will get specific answers for the Deputy concerning the three questions he asked regarding the north-south line, the allocations and the timeline. The next point in time is the national development plan, which is due to be published in or around July, and that will allocate capital for the next number of years. I will ask the Minister for Transport to respond to the Deputy specifically on those questions.