Labour leader vows Dublin gridlock won’t be repeated in Cork

TRANSPORT was to the fore as Pat Rabbitte tried to woo the voters of Cork yesterday.

The Labour leader unveiled a seven-point plan for the city and its surrounding areas.

He outlined a raft of policy measures, commenting that it is a shame the Bertie Ahern money saga is keeping the real election issues in the background.

The plan Labour promises to implement if it’s in the next government includes greater powers for the city and counties local authorities.

Commenting on the gridlock problems in Dublin, Mr Rabbitte said he didn’t want to see the same thing happening in the country’s second city.

“We will establish a Cork Transport Authority with the power to plan for, procure and manage a joined-up public transport network, which can grow with the city and its surrounding areas. We will support the new authority in examining a range of transport options for Cork, including a tram system for the city, a river bus service and a €1 flat rate adult bus fare for the city and its suburbs,” he said.

However, the seven-point plan does not include wiping out Cork Airport’s €100 million debt.

Mr Rabbitte said the issue needed to be addressed, but would not say how he intended to address it.

“Overcrowding in classrooms is a key issue, particularly in Cork county.

“Lack of planning and shortsightedness on the part of the Government are compromising the right of our children to a basic education. We need more teachers, but we also need more classrooms. Labour is committed to a radical overhaul of the system of schools provision to ensure that we provide the world class schools that our children deserve.”

Labour, he said, would put a large number of its proposed 1,500 extra community gardaí on the beat in the city.

He said it shouldn’t have taken 15 years to build a new maternity hospital in Cork and that he would ensure it was properly staffed.