Council invites ministers to discuss 'Cork-specific' governance issues
Cork City Council has voted to invite a number of ministers to address its members.Councillors last month decided to invite housing minister James Browne to Leeside, but a motion brought this week by Labour councillor Peter Horgan has added ministers for transport Darragh O’Brien and justice Jim O’Callaghan to address "Cork-specific" issues.Mr Horgan had brought the motion in February, but agreed for an amendment to be made. That amendment lists a number of Cork issues that would be proposed in the invites. For the minister for transport, councillors are asking for an update on both BusConnects and the Cork Luas project, as well as increased funding for roads and footpath repairs, details on the operation of a Cork-based Transport Police and issues associated with major road projects in the city.The motion proposes to ask Mr O'Callaghan about the number of gardaí in Cork, the operation of the replacement of Joint Policing Committees, and the capital infrastructure of An Garda Síochána stations in Cork City.It proposes asking Mr Browne to address housing targets for Cork City, issues with infrastructure impacting the Docklands, the Tenant in Situ Scheme and vacancy and dereliction in the city.Mr Horgan told the Irish Examiner he was pleased the motion passed.
We want to shout for Cork and put Cork first in their minds. That's the reasoning behind the motion. It's not about getting ministers down to say you haven't done x or y. I will back ministers who want to do anything that will benefit Cork.
"I think any minister should want to come down and engage in a constructive conversation. "If these three ministers did this, it could be a catalyst for more engagement from ministers across the board. It's not a day-long thing — if you're doing a jobs announcement or something, come in for an hour and you might come away with a different perspective."Mr O'Brien told The Irish Examiner recently that a preferred route for the Cork light rail would be published in the coming weeks. He said a Luas-style transport system for Cork is "significant, but badly needed," and is now expected to cost between €2bn and €3bn."It's really important for Cork from Ballincollig in the west right the way through to Mahon, and Cork light rail is a significant investment, but it's going to be worth it."The preferred route will emerge in the coming weeks," he said, adding that it will then go on display for public consultation which will "give people the reassurance that this is moving forward".
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