Tánaiste acknowledges dereliction in Cork, but says docklands will keep city 'bustling'

TÁNAISTE Micheál Martin has acknowledged that further action is needed to tackle vacancy and dereliction in Cork city centre, but said that investment, particularly in the docklands, will help keep the city “bustling”.

Asked about concerns over vacancy and dereliction levels in Cork city centre, Mr Martin told The Echo: “I think we do have to do more”.

Speaking about the future of the city centre, the Tánaiste said he envisages an increased residential element in the years to come.

“The nature of how the city centre will look in the future will probably change,” he said. “I think we will need more residential.

“I think there will be a greater residential feel about the city centre in the future.

“The Elysian, when you think about it, even though it was built on the cusp of the crash and everybody was looking at it as sort of ‘oh that’s one of the symbols of the crash’, in many ways it’s now a symbol of the future, and that was a very brave move at the time.

“I think it’s a high-quality location and residential accommodation in the heart of the city. And I think we’re going to see more of that too.

“I think docklands is the future. That’s why Cork got the highest allocation in the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, €400m.”

The transport and mobility plan for the city’s docklands focuses on sustainable means of transport.

The target is that 70% to 80% of all movement in the docklands will be by foot, bicycle, or public transport.

Funding will also facilitate the completion of Cork’s new Marina Park, which will be six times larger than Fitzgerald Park and equivalent in size to Dublin Zoo.

The State funding builds on considerable private investment evident in the docklands.

“That will all help the city centre,” said Mr Martin.

“It will keep it bustling.

“Then on the Grand Parade, we have €40m for the new library, and I think that could really help the Grand Parade.”