FG launch 12-point blueprint for city

THE Fine Gael party in Cork city has called for sweeping changes in the political system to give more power to local government.

Launching a 12-point blueprint for the development of the city over the next five years, it said central government must loosen its grip and devolve power from Dublin civil servants.

“There is too much to-ing and fro-ing between civil servants in the Department of the Environment and City Hall officials resulting in too many delays in sanctions and decisions,” the party’s leader on the city council, Jim Corr said.

Devolving power would ensure local authorities like Cork City Council could determine their own city’s future, the veteran of seven local elections said.

Establishing a Cork Transport Authority that could draft and implement policy would be a good first step, he said.

Accepting the country’s dire financial situation, he added: “We are not content to sit on our hands whilst waiting for the present crisis in the public finances – for which we are not responsible – to be rectified.”

The blueprint was drafted following widespread consultation with the city’s business, civic, educational, sporting and cultural interests. The 12 key areas which they say should be tackled:

* Securing government investment in infrastructure to build on Cork’s Gateway City designation.

* Fight for funding and tax breaks to provide crucial infrastructure, like the Eastern Gateway Bridge, to kick-start Cork’s multi-billion docklands regeneration.

* Get funding commitments from the National Roads Authority for the construction of the northern ring road.

* Deliver flyovers on the South Ring Road at Sarsfield Road and Bandon Road roundabouts.

* Plough funding into urban regeneration projects, protect urban green spaces, promote public transport, and increase the number of gardaí on the beat.

* Secure a greater slice of national taxation to ensure commercial rates and service charges do not increase.

* Secure a debt-free and independent Cork Airport.

* Fight the downgrading of the Mercy University Hospital, Victoria South Infirmary and St Mary’s Orthopaedic Hospital and establish a full-time ambulance service on the northside.

The party, which is running 13 candidates for city council seats, predicted it will win two additional seats on June 5.