Co Cork must prise more investment from the Dublin-centric powers-that-be

Only 34% of IDA funding has gone to projects outside of Dublin and Cork (whereas the Government edict requires 50%). That means 66% was granted to Dublin and Cork, but how does that divide between them?

Many developments around Cork seem to be slowed down by Bord Pleanála; NRA give road developments around Cork low priority; there is RTÉ’s Dublin emphasis; Bord Fáilte’s emphasis on Dublin and the West, and Cork Airport is not subject to the same consideration as Shannon.

Now, the policy seems to be to amalgamate Cork county and city.This would continue to disguise the real population of the conurbation in official figures. Having worked in an area of related research, I can say with certainty that population concentrations gleaned from official figures have a major bearing on decisions.

It is not today, nor was it yesterday, that Garret Fitzgerald visited Cork after the closing of the Ford factory and promised a duty-free port that evaporated as soon as he was back in The Pale. Look at what happened to Seamus Brennan, when he told Cork Airport it would be independent?

Is it not time that the people of Cork, indeed of Munster, made a lot more noise to put an end to this ?

John Whelan

Edenbrook Park

Rathfarnham

Dublin 14