GAA and port plan hearings set for same day

Oral hearings into two of the biggest developments to come before planners in recent years will get under way on the same day in Cork next month.

Inspectors from An Bord Pleanála will listen to proposals by the Port of Cork for a €100m upgrade of its container terminal at Ringaskiddy, while the GAA’s plans for a €67m regeneration of Páirc Uí Chaoimh will also come in for scrutiny.

The port oral hearing will take place at Cork International Airport Hotel and the GAA’s will be held at the Imperial Hotel. Both start on September 10 and are expected to take up to three days to complete.

It is the second time the port authority has applied to An Bord Pleanála for a major upgrade at Ringaskiddy.

A couple of years ago it failed to get approval for increasing capacity at the docks after it was ruled that the road network in the area and the Jack Lynch Tunnel could not take the extra amount of HGVs the project would generate.

This time port officials are more confident because plans are in train to upgrade the roads network at the tunnel. However, dozens of submissions have been lodged with An Bord Pleanála by residents.

The GAA meanwhile, proposes redevelopment and roofing of both stands at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, the incorporation of new dressing rooms and a pre-match warm-up area, new medical facilities, restaurants, and meeting rooms. The county board also wants to build a museum.

Submissions have been made by statutory bodies and objections have been lodged by Save the Marina Park and one local resident.