Transport minister calls for compensation for sports clubs impacted by Cork Luas

Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien said the light rail system is 'a really important project for Cork' and believes that sports clubs such as Bishopstown should be compensated with new facilities and extra grounds.
File picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Sports clubs impacted by the Cork Luas should be compensated with extra facilities and playing fields, transport minister Darragh O'Brien has said.

Mr O’Brien said he remains confident that construction on Cork’s light rail system will begin within the lifetime of the current Government, despite opposition to the preferred route from some local groups and political pushback from within the Coalition.

Bishopstown GAA Club has vowed to fight “to the very end” over the preferred Luas route and has described the plans to cut through its land and that of neighbouring rugby club Highfield as “completely unacceptable”.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport Jerry Buttimer has also said he is "not happy" with the proposed route for the €2.5bn public transport project.

A spokesperson for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) said the preferred route had been the result of detailed assessments of many alternatives. They said: "Luas Cork must serve the people of Cork and yet no line can be constructed without impacting on some residents, businesses, and other landowners.”

Mr O'Brien said the light rail system is "a really important project for Cork" and believes that sports clubs such as Bishopstown should be compensated with new facilities and extra grounds.

The preferred route will see a 20km light rail line running east-west across the city, from Ballincollig to Mahon, with 27 stops planned.

Using the example of Dublin's MetroLink, which was finally given approval by An Coimisiún Pleanála last October after years of delays and setbacks, Mr O'Brien said there are "very few objections" to major infrastructure projects "once you do the public consultation properly".

Under Dublin's MetroLink planning conditions, Fingallians GAA in Swords will receive upgraded all-weather, floodlit pitches to replace the facilities the club will lose in the construction process.

Mr O'Brien said "you'll see that being done" in relation to the clubs impacted by Cork's Luas.

"The community gain is not only the transport system, which people would say is badly needed, and it is, but is other planning gains for communities, and we've real live examples of that in in the Metrolink project.

He said that is at a premium and that the focus is on identifying the most viable option.

"What we've done in Fingal is we've got the local authority, TII, who are very good at this, engaging with the sports clubs right the way through the planning process, looking at where we can acquire a piece of land or looking at the State land there as well. We're very open to that," said Mr O'Brien.

"I don't want to pre-empt what the public consultation will bring forward, and then what the revision will be on the back of the public consultation, because it may be these things are worked out through the public consultation. But it is the preferred route.

But public consultation is exactly that — it's there to listen to people.

While he accepts there may still be objections to the proposals, Mr O’Brien said the project will come under the new Planning and Development Act. 

He said the legislation, which sets statutory timelines for decisions on major infrastructure projects, should help ensure the project progresses as quickly as possible.

"We are depending on the planning process," said Mr O'Brien. He expressed confidence that TII can progress elements such as procurement in parallel once a decision is made. 

He said this approach should help accelerate delivery and described the project as “massive” for Cork.

Mr O'Brien conceded that a Luas system for Galway is "further back" and the construction of a ring road around the city will go ahead first.

He said congestion around the city must be addressed, with motorists facing significant delays when trying to get across Galway and out to Connemara.

• Elaine Loughlin is Political Editor.