THE Government will hold a day-long Cabinet meeting in UCC on Friday to discuss a number of major Cork infrastructure projects.

The delivery of the M28 motorway to Ringaskiddy, the Cork to Limerick motorway, the Macroom bypass and upgrades to the Dunkettle Interchange will all be discussed at the meeting.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney told the Evening Echo that the Taoiseach will first visit the recently completed Páirc Uí Chaoimh for a business breakfast with the Chamber of Commerce before heading to UCC for a day-long discussion with his political colleagues.

Mr Coveney said he had been anxious to have a meeting in Cork with the Government and was delighted it was now happening.

“This is the first time in a very long time the Cabinet has had a meeting in Cork. There will be a big focus on Brexit and the Budget too,” Mr Coveney said.

“We have been anxious to bring a cabinet meeting to Cork for some time, obviously I have been anxious that that would happen so that we can focus on some Cork issues particularly after the Budget," added Mr Coveney.

As well as Cork road projects, Mr Coveney said he also wanted to show the Cabinet Ministers the recent developments in Cork.

“I want Cabinet ministers to see developments that have happened in Cork that have been significant such at The Capitol and Páirc Uí Chaoimh, which the Government invested €30m into.” 

Mr Coveney said there was a lot to discuss at the meeting with regard to the growth of Cork as the second city.

“There is a whole series of things, Cork city needs a new hospital, There is a long list of investment needs in Cork, and obviously by holding a Cabinet meeting, there is an opportunity to talk about Cork and its needs. How it can be a real counterbalance to Dublin.” 

The Cork Minister went on to say that Cork would be on the tip of the tongue for Government Ministers in coming months.

“There will be a big focus on Cork generally in the Government in the coming months as we move on as a Government to the new tenure capital expenditure programme, which is looking at spending tens of millions of euros nationally.

“Cork features strongly in the new national planning framework, Where we are talking about increasing the population of Cork by 50% in the next 20-30 years.”