Taoiseach waves off Sinn Féin notion of being ‘silent’ on Cork regeneration

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has rejected as “complete nonsense” Sinn Féin assertions that the programme for government was “silent” on the regeneration of social housing flat and apartment complexes in Cork.

Speaking in the Dáil, Sinn Féin TD for Cork South-Central Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said the programme for government was “silent on … the regeneration of flat and apartment complexes outside Dublin city centre”.

The programme for government contains a commitment to help “to regenerate Dublin city centre as well as our cities and towns”.

It also contains a mention of boosting Cork’s regeneration by working towards “the completion of the Cork events centre”.

Mr Martin, who was speaking in Mallow on Friday at the opening of a 13-home Focus Ireland social housing development, dismissed Mr Ó Laoghaire’s criticisms of the Government’s regeneration commitments.

“I don’t accept that, that’s nonsense, complete nonsense, we’ve been supporting regeneration in Cork now for a long time,” he said.

“Going up to the northside in Cork now, there’s been extensive regeneration, that will continue.

“And when it says [our cities and towns], Cork is clearly a city in this country, so obviously regeneration will continue, in terms of older flat complexes, but we’ve refurbished a lot and there’s more on the agenda. We work with the city council in terms of its agenda on regeneration, and that would be across the country.

“If anything, actually, Dublin is quite a bit behind other cities like Cork. Cork has been ahead of the curve in respect of regeneration, but there is more to be done and I acknowledge that and we will do it.”

Asked by The Echo about poor living conditions in older Cork City Council social housing complexes such as Noonan’s Rd, Clashduv Rd and others, Mr Martin said there was a specific agenda for Noonan’s Rd.

“We’ve been campaigning and working to try and get Noonan’s Rd sorted and it will be, and then we have Clashduv Road and we have other flat complexes, on the southside,” Mr Martin said.

“You’ll recall Deanrock and all that area was massively refurbished, way ahead of Dublin or anybody else, so we’ll just have to keep the momentum going, and we will.”