Cork Transport
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Et ditto:
24 February 2007
Independent, debt-free airport all that matters
I REFER to your editorial (Irish Examiner, February 21) in which you question my motives for speaking out against the proposal to saddle an independent Cork airport with a debt of €100 million.
I have always been, and will continue to be, a staunch supporter of an independent, debt-free Cork airport.
A year ago I was the first politician to obtain from Transport Minister Martin Cullen an admission that Cork airport may have to carry some of the debt from the building of the new terminal.
That admission came in an answer to a motion tabled by me during an adjournment debate in which I asked the minister: “Does he intend to honour the previous commitment to leave Cork Airport Authority debt-free, or has he decided on an alternative structure?â€
I never considered the answer to my motion to be fair or to be the end of my campaign for a debt-free airport.
Subsequent to that debate I wrote an opinion piece for the Evening Echo in which I outlined the minister’s response to my motion and stated that “every Oireachtas member representing Cork must come together and cooperate to overcome this deficitâ€.
The viability of Cork airport and development in the region have always been my major considerations and any suggestion that I would ‘play politics’ with these hugely important issues is completely unfounded.
I will always stand up for the interests of Cork, no matter what. That’s more than can be said of some who would put career before city.
So I’ll say it again, as I’ve been saying for so long, Cork airport should be independent and debt-free or at the very least asked to carry a debt that does not make it unviable.
The airport board has to be satisfied it can operate competitively. I will stand with any politician willing to continue the fight for that.
It’s not about party politics — it’s about Cork and its future.
Senator John Minihan
9 Clermont
Douglas Road
CorkFrom this morning’s quondamCork Examiner:
26 February 2007
Long haul for airport
BILL HURLEY (Irish Examiner letters, February 17) asks why Cork airport cannot emulate Knock?
Firstly, Knock’s runway is longer than Cork’s and is likely to remain so as long as Cork is controlled from Dublin.
Maybe if Cork can get the freedom of action — even with a big debt — it may somehow find the money to extend the runway to facilitate long-haul flights and to install a landing system that can deal with fog. It might also be able to promote the use of the airport in the south.
John Whelan
1 Edenbrook Park
Rathfarnham
Dublin 14From this morning’s quondam Cork Examiner:
27 February 2007
Flights of fancy
DUBLIN Airport needs a second terminal and Cork has a fully operational spare one. Ryanair has clearly indicated its desire to take over the old terminal — and the Cork Airport Authority has a rather large loan to repay.
Surely it’s a no-brainer? Ryanair flies to 27 destinations from Shannon and only four from Cork.
Kevin Dwyer
Ballycrenane
Cloyne
Co CorkI never understand the fascination with reopening the old terminal. Operating two terminals would be prohibitively expensive when the new one can easily be expanded to handle up to 5 million. Also, Ryanair don’t run airports; it would be impossible to squeeze themselves.
Anyway, the old terminal should be knocked soon. The best way to see the situation is that if you occupied every stand at the airport, the new terminal could cope. On the other hand, apron space is severely lacking. Some aircraft (business jets, not scheduled passenger services yet) have had to be turned away because there was nowhere to park them,
I don’t agree that operating both terminals need be prohibitively expensive. If the two were connected by a simple tunnel/corridor (fixed and weatherproof of course!) you could retain the checkin and security in the new terminal.
What the new terminal is short on is departures space, and that is what would be best provided by the old terminal.
Whilst true that the new terminal can be “easily” expanded to cater for 5 million, that expansion needs to be paid for, and money is not growing on trees in Cork Airport!!!
@Praxiteles wrote:
From this morning’s quondam Cork Examiner:
27 February 2007
Flights of fancy
DUBLIN Airport needs a second terminal and Cork has a fully operational spare one. Ryanair has clearly indicated its desire to take over the old terminal — and the Cork Airport Authority has a rather large loan to repay.
Surely it’s a no-brainer? Ryanair flies to 27 destinations from Shannon and only four from Cork.
Kevin Dwyer
Ballycrenane
Cloyne
Co Cork🙂 I agree with Mr.Dwyer.
Sorry for being a party pooper here BUT, Knock Airport is now run by what would be described as a truly independent airport authority, and has all the signs of it (transatlantic flights, running a profit etc). Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Cork, a company that lost 5.8 million last year alone (10 years @ 5.8 = 58 mil + 100 mil dept = 158 mil), how long would the taxpayer tolerate this waste of funds?
Cork is getting a brand new airport for the knock down sum of 100 million…how long would the queue of entrepreneurs be if this bargain was offered on the open market?From this morning’s quondam Cork Examiner:
01 March 2007
Airport debt will cripple development
I AM appalled but not surprised that the Government has broken all promises in relation to the creation of a debt-free Cork Airport and is now unfairly demanding that the airport pays a potentially crippling €100m towards the cost of its development.
Following the break-up of Aer Rianta in 2004, the then Transport Minister, Seamus Brennan, said Cork Airport would be transferred to its new independent status debt-free and all assets and contractual arrangements would be transferred to the Dublin Airport Authority.
This now-hollow commitment has been disregarded as the Government has engaged on the U-turn of the century.
If Cork Airport is forced to pay for its current development works, it will have serious implications on its expansion policy, which will adversely affect the competitiveness of the airport.
Saddling Cork Airport with a €100m debt will have a dire effect on the Cork region, which needs a profitable and successful international airport if it is to achieve its potential growth.
Without a successful airport offering connections to Europe and the rest of the world, the Cork and Munster region will not be in a strong position to attract and hold investment in the area.
The Government’s National Spatial Strategy states a commitment to develop the regional regions with a special emphasis on gateways such as Cork. However, the Government’s total disregard for and treatment of Cork this week leads one to question its commitment to its own strategy.
Government-party members in Cork cry out at how unfair and unjust it is for Cork to be given such a debt at the infancy of the airport. Despite all their bellowing, I do not see them putting actions into words and calling for an abolition of the debt and the resignation of Minister for Transport Martin Cullen.
Far more important than any party politics is the future of the airport and ensuring that those working at the airport do not lose their jobs.
The Government must take responsibility for the mess it has created.
Cllr Deirdre Clune
Douglas Village East
Douglas
Cork.
:rolleyes: Easily known that an election is coming.
Ms. Clune and the rest of the “oppositionâ€:eek: in the City Council are unwilling to raise the airport or any other major issue e.g. Cork Docklands in a forceful way for fear of upsetting the cosy cartel that allows the rotation of the post of Lord Mayor, and expenses paid junkets at home and abroad (trips to Shanghai to see hurling games,,Sligo to see the working of septic tanks)
The Taoiseach is to grant councilors an audience for 10 mins tomorrow to discuss the airport.
A half hearted letter to the press really does not cut the mustard Ms. Clune.
We really get what we deserve in Cork with this level of public representative.Kite!
Just for the record, what is Ms Clune’s political persuasion so that we can remember it when we go to the polls?
@Praxiteles wrote:
Kite!
Just for the record, what is Ms Clune’s political persuasion so that we can remember it when we go to the polls?
She is the daughter of Peter Barry of Barry’s tea fame (Fine Gael)
From this morning’s Irish Independent:
Airport ‘may yet decline independence’
THE bitter €220m debt row between Dublin and Cork airport authorities took a dramatic twist last night when the Cork board signalled that they may opt to decline independent status.
Cork Airport Authority’s (CAA) board held a meeting last night to discuss controversial proposals for debt generated by their new terminal to be divided between themselves and Dublin Airport Authority (DAA).
The meeting took place in advance of a visit to Cork today by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, where he is expected to come under pressure over the airport debt.
However, while CAA were initially expected to opt reluctantly for independent operations from Dublin with a €100m capital debt, it has emerged that a final decision on independent status has not been taken.
In a statement, the CAA board hailed the meeting as “very constructive”.
“The CAA board is not yet in a position to evaluate or discuss the long-term financing of Cork Airport as recently proposed,” the statement said.
Critics have claimed the €100m debt will cripple Cork Airport’s ability to attract new routes.
Ralph Riegel
Bertie certainly had a day of it in Cork. After officially opening a new school in Youghal, he was hounded by RTE, TV3 and 96FM as to why so many broken promises were made regarding Cork Airport. The same press followed him to every other destination on his itinerary and at one stage needed a police escort to allow him get away form the them.
@A-ha wrote:
Bertie certainly had a day of it in Cork. After officially opening a new school in Youghal, he was hounded by RTE, TV3 and 96FM as to why so many broken promises were made regarding Cork Airport. The same press followed him to every other destination on his itinerary and at one stage needed a police escort to allow him get away form the them.
Signs of things to come?
Some good news road wise.
Cork Co Co are going to push through speed limit adjustments in regards to High Quality Dual Carriageways.
The followings roads are going to be upped to 120k/ph
1. The N8 from the 450 meters before the foot bridge above glanmire to the start of the M8 at Watergrasshill.
2. On the N25 from the Dunkettle INterchange to past Carrigtwohill.
3. The Ballincollig bypass.No doubt that the eventual Mitchelstown bypass will get similar treatment.
Also worth noting that the Draft 2007 Roads Act allows for the Minister for Transport to declare a National Road a Motorway (providing all of the usual requirements for an alternative route etc are met). This means that, when this clears the Oireachtas, any HQDC can be ‘made’ Motorway, with all of the additional rules that this implies (50kmh minimum, no L drivers etc). In other words, the entire N8/N7could be declared Motorway as soon as the HQDC sections are complete.
More from our favourite Minister – see below. He is proof that talent will get you to the top. He is in no way proof that neck will win out over talent everytime.
Cullen still to sign-off €139m commuter upgrade
By Sean O’Riordan
TRANSPORT Minister Martin Cullen, still hasn’t signed the Railway Order which would enable work to start on Cork’s €139 million commuter upgrade.Nearly five months after a four-day oral hearing into the project was completed, the minister hasn’t signed off on the order.
He has also refused to outline whether there is any reason for the delay in replies to two Dáil questions.
It looks increasingly unlikely that Iarnród Éireann will be able to complete the reopening of the Cork-Midleton line by the target date of July next year — just 15 months away.
Midleton-based TD David Stanton has repeatedly asked the minister what the position is and he has become increasingly concerned that a cohesive plan to make the project as attractive as possible to commuters is not coming together properly.
The delay is puzzling many people, especially as nobody objected in principle and any problems encountered at the oral hearing seem to have been dealt with almost there and then by senior Iarnród Éireann officials.
In March 2004 then Minister for Transport Seamus Brennan said he hoped the railway would open in two years. Later Iarnród Eireann officials said early 2008.
Yesterday a spokeswoman for Mr Cullen said he was still studying the inspector’s report, but couldn’t say when he would make a decision on the Rail Order.
“It is quite an extensive report,” she said.
While the railway corridor remains intact, Iarnród Éireann will still have to put down the lines, erect signalling, bridges and three fully automated railway stations with park and ride facilities along the line.
These stations are to be built in Midleton, Carrigtwohill and North Esk, near Glanmire.
In addition there is to be an upgrade of the Mallow line with new stations in Kilbarry and Blarney, but that won’t be completed until some time after the Cork-Midleton line is up and running.
“As it stands, it looks unlikely that the Cork-Midleton project will be finished by the target date of July 2008. The population of Midleton continues to increase, leading to worsening traffic congestion on all roads in both the town and surrounding area, in particular during rush hours. There is clearly a demand for an efficient and affordable rail service to Cork, which should help combat the traffic problems,” Mr Stanton said.
Midleton Town Council member Ken Murray said he didn’t believe that a vital piece of infrastructure, namely the town’s northern relief road, would be anywhere near ready to coincide with the opening of the local railway station.
“The CPOs have been done, but there’s no start-up date for the project. Without the relief road people won’t be able to get through the town to the railway station. There’s been a lot of ranting and raving at town council meetings about this. It’s imperative the railway and northern relief road are done together,” Mr Murray said.
He added that he was “very disappointed” Mr Cullen was taking so long to sign off the Railway Order.
At the four-day oral hearing, which started in Midleton Park Hotel in late October, a number of Iarnród Éireann officials said they hoped to start construction on May 21 this year and commence driver training in 2008, with the official opening on July 29.
In its first year of operation the service is expected to carry 1.74 million passengers, rising to two million by 2010 and four million by 2015.
browser wrote:Yesterday a spokeswoman for Mr Cullen said he was still studying the inspector’]After 5 months it must be the joined up writing
How many broken promises is that? kent station, airport, kinsale road (9 years late), bandon roundabout, sarsfield roundabout and the 100 times announced Cork Midleton railway. Bye bye 2008, hello 2010.
@Pug wrote:
After 5 months it must be the joined up writing
How many broken promises is that? kent station, airport, kinsale road (9 years late), bandon roundabout, sarsfield roundabout and the 100 times announced Cork Midleton railway. Bye bye 2008, hello 2010.
At the opening of the new docklands station in Dublin this week Bertie looked very uncomfortable sitting next to our Governmental Dolt as Mr.Cullen tried to take credit for this latest infrastructural triumph.
I am amazed that the people of Cork are not up in arms over his latest trick ?
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