Budget 2025 must enable delivery of Cork infrastructure projects, chamber says

Budget 2025 must position the public finances to be able to “accelerate the design, planning, final investment decisions, and timely delivery of the major infrastructure projects in the pipeline for Cork”.

Cork Chamber made the statement in its pre-budget submission, highlighting suburban and light rail, intercity rail, BusConnects Cork, key road projects, such as the M28 Cork-to-Ringaskiddy project, the N/M20 Cork-to-Limerick scheme, the Northern Distributor Road, the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme, and the long-awaited events centre as examples.

Connectivity and accessibility, the chamber said, are “crucial for the sustainable development of Ireland” and quality road infrastructure, with multi-modal transport options, “plays a pivotal role in stimulating economic and social development”.

Calling for an enhancement of intercity rail services, the chamber said it believes Irish Rail needs to establish a “higher-speed, seamless rail line connecting Cork, Dublin, and Belfast”.

“A direct rail service between Cork and Limerick should also be developed,” the business organisation said, also calling for an acceleration of Cork’s proposed light rail system.

Cork Chamber said the commitment from the Government in Budget 2024 to invest in climate change, through the creation of the new €14bn Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund, was a “welcomed step to address the challenges we will face in the years to come”.

“However, funding and an investment plan is needed now to address the challenges we are already facing today.

“Cork and Dublin have been designated as EU mission cities for climate neutrality to 2030.

“We welcome the support from the National Mirror Group in co-ordinating the Smart Cities Mission at national level, providing strategic leadership, governance and decision-making support.

“For Cork and Dublin to achieve these climate objectives, funding is essential.

“A dedicated fund should be established by central government to fund the next six years of investment to meet that target of climate neutrality for Cork and Dublin by 2030.

“Currently no such dedicated funding exists and is urgently required to meet our climate targets,” the chamber said.

The organisation also made the point that Government “must consider the increased cost of delaying decisions on necessary infrastructure projects”.

“Procrastination not only inflates the expenses associated with construction and development, but also hampers the country’s economic and social progress,” the chamber said.