Cllr McCarthy: Douglas and Rochestown Deserve Better

At first read, it is welcome to hear that a further e1billion is to be invested in public transport in Cork. That is great news. But at first glance I am really disappointed by the emerging preference route and will be calling on the NTA for a complete revamp of the eastern section and for it to go back to the design board. The Douglas and Rochestown area have a combined population of 20,000. Why stop the tram at Mahon Point Shopping Centre area?

The ambition is really lacking in the eastern section. The city was expanded for good reason in 2019 to make the city one of scale where scale can support the release of funding and investment into public infrastructure. I cannot in good faith go back as a public rep to those 20,000 people I represent in Douglas and Rochestown and say that your area may be serviced by the second tranche of planning for a Luas line that may or may not come in decades to come in your lifetime or not. It is essential that the Luas takes in Douglas and Rochestown and not only that there should be mapping as well as far as Carrigaline. There is an enormous opportunity here that should not be missed. Douglas and Rochestown deserve better”.