A major strategy report on public transport for Cork is to be published before the end of the year following a ten-month delay.

The Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy is currently being prepared by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Cork's city and county councils.

The document will make recommendations on a possible rapid bus or LUAS-style light rail system for the city. It will also recommend road improvements, a more extensive and higher capacity bus network, improved rail service with new stations and a number of new parks and ride sites.

Previous reports and development plans have suggested a rapid transport corridor between Ballincollig and Mahon connecting CIT, the CUH, city centre and the Docklands.

However, the report's publication has been delayed by a number of months with fears that further delays will hinder the city's growth.

Cork South Central TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire raised the matter with the Minister for Transport Shane Ross in January and was told the report would be published in February.

He raised the issue again in recent weeks and was told the NTA hopes to publish the report before the end of the year.

Mr Ó Laoghaire said the delay is very concerning.

"There has never been more debate in Cork about public transport as there is now, so this report must come out and allow the public to have their say on its recommendations," he said.

"If we are serious about growing Cork, as the Government has outlined in their Ireland 2040 plan, then light rail or rapid bus transport must be delivered in the medium term."

"Such infrastructure requires careful planning and will take time but needs to be in place to allow us to grow our population."

"This delay is not good enough. In January we were told it would be published in February and would then go for public consultation. We are now in November and are told it will be published before the end of the year.  It must be published next month," Mr Ó Laoghaire added.