Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 November 2019
225. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the most recent reports and costings available to his Department with regard to a potential light rail system for Cork city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49484/19]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has worked with Cork City Council and Cork County Council in developing a draft Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (also known as CMATS).
In developing CMATS, the NTA examined the potential for all modes of sustainable mobility in the Cork metropolitan area and provided indicative costings against the options considered, including a potential light rail corridor in the city.
CMATS is obviously a long-term, twenty-year strategy and there are therefore a range of measures proposed in the short, medium and longer term, with the short term focus being on active travel and improved bus infrastructure and services.
A draft CMATS was published earlier this year for public consultation and is available to view on the NTA's website. Following the public consultation held earlier this year, I understand the local authorities will formally adopt CMATS as their relevant transport strategy in due course.
