NTA should open its promised regional office in Cork – Buttimer

Cork Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer, a member of the Oireachtas Transport Committee, has called on the NTA to open its promised regional office in Cork.

“I very much welcome that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the National Transport Authority (NTA) have awarded a contract to Jacobs Engineering Group to undertake route option analysis and develop an initial design for light rail from Ballincollig and Mahon Point as part of the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport (CMAT) strategy.

“This announcement is significant and is further proof that there is serious commitment to delivery and implementation of the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport strategy. The next important piece is the opening of the NTA’s promised regional office in Cork which is critical to the CMAT’s light rail strategy.

“I am calling on the NTA to progress this as quickly as possible. The office must be opened and resourced to the highest level. If we are serious about the national development plan and enhancing connectivity, the NTA should immediately open its office in Cork as a priority.

“The Cabinet is meeting in Cork on Monday. The National Development Plan (NDP) is also being launched in Cork that day, and it will no doubt be an important focus of the upcoming Budget.  It is crucial that in Cork we continue to see visualisation of investment, and the opening of its promised regional office in Cork by the NTA will strengthen the commitment to delivery of the NDP projects in Cork.”