Tánaiste repeats call for establishment of Cork city centre taskforce

Tánaiste Simon Harris has repeated a call for the establishment of a Cork city centre taskforce “as an absolute priority”.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr Harris said he wanted the taskforce to be part of the Government’s upcoming housing plan.

A planned taskforce dedicated to Cork’s city centre's revival was included in the programme for government, and in June Mr Harris told this newspaper he was anxious that it go ahead by the end of this year.

Last month, however, Taoiseach Micheál Martin told his fellow Cork South Central Fianna Fáil TD Seamus McGrath that “People do not like the word ‘taskforce’ in Cork - we are kind of fussy - so they are looking for a different title because the city has made progress”.

He said a group would be set up to look at the terms of reference of such a body.

“We want to make sure that in what we establish, we capture that and not duplicate or do something on a different strand or track."

Now, the Tánaiste has renewed calls that a taskforce for Cork be urgently introduced.

“I really want to see a dedicated Cork city centre taskforce established as an absolute priority,” Mr Harris told The Echo.

“When I was taoiseach, we established a Dublin city centre taskforce, and we’ve already seen the benefits that that has been able to make for our capital city.

“It’s very clear that a Cork city centre taskforce could have really, really positive benefits for Cork city, for the economy in Cork, for making sure that we drive investment into Cork, and that we can plan for the essential infrastructure and growth needs of the city of Cork.

“I’ve been working very closely with Colm Burke, with Jerry Buttimer, with Garret Kelleher and with the Cork councillors.” 

 Mr Harris said he would like to see the Cork city centre taskforce included as a commitment in the forthcoming Government housing plan, adding that he believed it could “make a real difference”.

“I want people in Cork to know that this is a priority for me in Government,” he said.

“I think a Cork taskforce to bring all the agencies together, to coordinate, to break down silos, and to develop a plan to revitalise Cork would make a real and meaningful difference.” 

Last week, in a written Dáil reply to Cork North Central Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn, the Taoiseach said a tailored response to Cork’s needs would be required, focussing primarily on tackling vacancy and dereliction, sustaining business, investing in the public realm, making city streets safer, and getting more people living in the centre.

“I expect to see the developed terms of reference, tailored for Cork city’s specific needs, in the very near future,” Mr Martin said.