THE SENIOR Green Party figure in Cork has insisted that the funding situation with regard to the development of the city’s docklands remains unchanged.
Senator Dan Boyle was reacting to angry comments from political and business circles in the city at the weekend following reports that his party leader, Minister for the Environment John Gormley, had announced the deferral of vital funds for the project.
Responding to a question regarding the implementation of the report of the Cork Docklands Development Forum, Mr Gormley had said the Government would have to defer funding decisions relating to the Eastern Gateway Bridge “having regard to the prevailing budgetary constraints”.
City council and local business quickly voiced their frustrations, insisting the €2.3 million needed to begin work on the €80 million Eastern Gateway Bridge was essential funding vital to the timetable of the entire project.
Mr Gormley and the Government were accused of being short-sighted and neglecting the needs of the second city.
However, Mr Boyle insisted the hostile reaction was not warranted, and said that no additional obstacles to funding had been put in place.
“There was never going to be money available in 2009. We are looking at 2010 at the earliest, and saying that is reiterating the situation rather than saying something new,” he said.