Micheál Martin TD Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment welcomes €34.4 billion Transport Investment

Major transport boost for Cork City & County

Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment Micheál Martin TD today (Tues 1^st Nov 2005) welcomed the announcement of Transport 21, which will see €9.4million invested every day for the next 10 years in Irish transport.

Commenting Minister Martin said, “This is a new era for transport in Ireland. In my role as Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, I am particularly conscious that an efficient and effective transport system is essential to maintain our competitiveness. I have met with the Minister for Transport on this issue and we will continue to work closely together to ensure that this new roads programme will have the flexibility to address the access requirement of major new industrial enterprises.

“Transport 21 also provides a major boost for Cork city and county. Key measures include:

The development of 70km of Quality Bus Corridor,

A train on the hour from Dublin to Cork,

Commuter train services every day from Mallow, Blarney, Dunkettle and Kilbarry to Cork City,

A saving of up to 41 minutes by car from Dublin to Cork,

Atlantic Corridor – connecting the gateways of Letterkenny, Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford

In recent years we have seen the face of Cork City change dramatically - and for the better. Cork is home to an array of industrial and service companies, including many world brands and provides high quality employment for thousands of people. Today’s Transport 21 announcement will allow Cork build on that success. It will provide the essential infrastructure that will allow Cork continue to develop as sought after location for world class companies manufacturing internationally branded products for world markets.

Concluding Minister Martin said, “Transport 21 is detailed, integrated and deliverable. It will provide a 21^{s t} Century infrastructure for the 21^{s t} Century. It will ensure Cork and the country as a whole will benefit from a world-class transport system that will underpin our economic development improve the quality of life for everyone”.

ENDS

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