TD says major Cork projects should be managed by a local office

With several multi-billion-euro transport projects underway in Cork or scheduled to commence, a dedicated office with decision-making powers is “critically important”, a Cork TD has said.

With the preferred route for the Cork Luas due to be published later this month and several other transport projects at varying stages of development, Séamus McGrath, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South Central, has called for a dedicated Cork transport office.

Mr McGrath told The Echo he had recently discussed with transport minister Darragh O’Brien the possibility of opening such an office.

“We have multi-billion-euro transport projects earmarked for Cork, the Cork Luas, commuter rail, active travel projects, BusConnects, and key road projects such as the northern ring road and the northern distributor road,” Mr McGrath said.

“All of these transportation projects should be driven through a strategic, integrated office based in Cork, with representatives from all of the key agencies, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the National Transport Authority, Irish Rail, Bus Éireann, and the local authorities, driving the projects forward.

“Decisions about Cork projects should be taken in Cork, we’re the second city, and we should have a powerful office, with real teeth, senior personnel, with decision-making powers, working under one roof in an integrated approach, managing Cork projects in Cork.”

Mr McGrath said that as a public representative, he had been frustrated at what he called “the slow roll-out of a number of Cork transportation projects”.

“I feel that having all of the relevant agencies working together on the ground here in Cork, we can ensure that all of these projects are progressed as quickly as possible,” he said.

“For me, the key point is that critical projects in Cork should not be managed in Dublin, they should be managed in Cork.”