Major transport initiatives announced for Cork

The Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, today announced a number of major transport initiatives for Cork city aimed at improving traffic flows.

Speaking in Cork today, the Minister unveiled details for a €4m refurbishment of the city's main bus depot at Parnell Place. This re-development brings total investment in Bus Éireann's Cork service to €24m over the past five years.

Minister Brennan also outlined plans to allocate €500,000 towards improving bus access for people with disabilities, the elderly and those with young children. Ten quality bus corridors are set to be constructed with the €3m provided to the City Council in 2003 .

Other major infrastructure projects for Cork to be started this year include the Kinsale Road Interchange and the N8 Fermoy By-Pass. The Minister added that the N22 Ballincollig By-Pass will be completed this year at a cost of €150m.

Speaking today the Minister said the completion of the Dublin to Cork motorway has been brought forward.

"The completion within a tighter timeframe than was originally scheduled will be a major economic boost to the whole of Cork and indeed the Munster region in general," he said.

Cork is currently gearing up for 2005 when it will take on the European city of culture title.