Government to consider including Cork's north ring road in revised National Development Plan

Also, Micheál Martin has confirmed that a delay to the auto-enrolment pension scheme into next year is down to a 'logistical issue'

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the project would be considered alongside the northern distributor road, which is continuing to progress. Photo: Niall Carson/PA

The Cork north ring road will be considered for inclusion within the revised National Development Plan (NDP), Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.

Mr Martin said the project would be considered alongside the northern distributor road, which is continuing to progress.

“There are significant issues there, not least the enormous employment within Apple and the investment that Apple themselves are putting into their transport hub,” Mr Martin said. “I think in parallel with that, we do need to get on with the distributor road.”

The Taoiseach said he did not want to pre-empt discussions on the revised NDP, due to the fact that “there are a lot of projects that have to be funded”.

“Inflation has increased the costs of most projects, if not all projects, that are coming before Government in terms of original estimates,” Mr Martin said. “Obviously that will create pressure on the review of the national development plan.”

Pressed if it was possible to do both the north ring road and the northern distributor road, Mr Martin said he would not comment on specifics. However, he said movement on the northern distributor road would be a “significant bit of progress”.

The north ring road project has been stalled for a number of years, with the proposal initially included as part of Project Ireland 2040. It has remained at pre-planning stage and a route for the project is yet to be identified.

Auto-enrolment pensions

Meanwhile, Mr Martin has confirmed that a delay to the auto-enrolment pension scheme into next year is down to a “logistical issue”.

The scheme itself was due to begin this September, but will now be pushed back until January 2025.

Mr Martin pushed back on assertions the Government was rolling back on workers' rights and benefits, saying that the delay to auto enrolment has nothing to do with competitiveness changes.

“The Government is promoting auto-enrolment," Mr Martin said.

"There's a logistical issue as to whether they can get ready for September or January. That's the only issue.

“We need balance and perspective in debate now. The auto-enrolment issue is nothing to do with competitiveness or anything like that. It's an issue of making sure that it will be ready logistically.”

Mr Martin said there is “no pullback” on the plans and introducing auto-enrolment would be a “fundamental progressive move for many, many workers”.

"It is probably one of the more radical interventions we can make. It has taken a lot of time and a lot of work between different government departments to get it to where it is today. We're very determined to see it through.”