PRESS RELEASE03/11/2005 Naval-gazing Allen cannot swallow progress on transport in Cork - Kelleher Cork North-Central Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher has accused Fine Gael TD Bernard Allen of cynical naval-gazing after the Opposition politician dismissed the Government’s €34.4 billion transport plan which will transform they way people travel in Cork city. Deputy Kelleher, assistant Government chief whip, said Deputy Allen and his party retreat to the same old hollow rhetoric about ‘rehashed announcements’ and ‘photo opportunities’ when Fine Gael itself has not two new coherent policies to rub together. ‘Transport 21 is costed, integrated and ambitious. It has at its heart development potential for Cork city and county and I would urge Opposition cynics to take the trumpet from their mouths for once and join the campaign for progress,’ said Deputy Kelleher. He said Transport 21, unveiled this week, will put in place 70kms of quality bus corridor - slashing journey times. Cork will get park-and-ride facilities to take cars out of the city. ‘By 2006, state-of-the-art intercity trains will run on the hour from Dublin to Cork. By 2008, the Midleton-to-Cork City suburban commuter line will be reopened. By 2010, the Dublin-Cork interurban motorway will be completed. These are major developments for commuters in Cork which will be realised in full in a few short years,’ said Deputy Kelleher. He pointed out that the Atlantic Road Corridor will link Cork to the other gateway cities – Letterkenny, Sligo, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. That means you will be able to drive from Letterkenny to Waterford on one continuous road - cutting journey times. ‘There will be new stops in Blarney, Kilbarry and Dunkettle in the Cork North-Central constituency along the Mallow-Cork City-Cobh line which is to be reopened. It is clear Transport 21 holds huge promise for Cork. Opposition bleating is just that - the hollow din of desperate politicians,’ said Deputy Kelleher. ENDS
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