Vol. 526 No. 6
173 Mr. O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she is preparing to include in the estimate for her Department's capital expenditure in the year 2001, funding for the re-opening of a commuter railway station at Blarney, County Cork, and the re-opening of the east Cork line to Midleton and Youghal, County Cork for commuters and seaside day-trippers from Cork city. [27239/00]
Major public transport projects, such as those outlined by the Deputy, are best considered when they are developed in line with appropriate land use planning policy and practice, so that the appropriate scale of projects is put in place to justify their capital and ongoing operating costs.
I understand that rail developments in the Cork area are currently being considered by consultants who have been engaged by Cork Corporation and Cork County Council to draw up the Cork Strategic Plan, 2000-20. The consultants recently issued an interim report which, among other things, contains proposals that the area along the rail corridor from Blarney via Cork to Midleton be rezoned for major development which could tie in with rail development proposals, including the reopening of a commuter station at Blarney, the re-opening of the line to Midleton and the possibility of extending services to Youghal.
The strategy being adopted by the consultants accords, in principle, with my position on the development of major public transport projects. However, further work needs to be done, such as detailed cost-benefit analysis, an analysis of funding options, feasibility and demand analysis.
