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Cork city to try Patrick Street car ban for the second time - here's what you need to know

The last time things didn’t go so well.

TODAY MARKS CORK City’s second attempt to introduce a car ban on one of its busiest streets in a bid to reduce congestion.

From half three this afternoon, private cars will no longer be allowed to drive down Patrick’s Street, one of the city’s main arteries.

The only vehicles which will be allowed go down that road will be taxis, buses, bicycles and emergency service vehicles.

Private vehicles will be allowed back onto the street after 6.30pm.

Diversions will be put in place and a heavy garda presence is expected during the initial months to ensure compliance with the new measures.

The council said that the new measure is an attempt to prioritise bus routes and to keep traffic moving as Cork is preparing to accommodate 10,000 new jobs over the next two years.

The re-introduction of the St Patrick’s St bus priority corridor is to be accompanied by range of measures to improve and encourage access to the city centre.

They include:

  • Bus Éireann is to reduce bus fares in Cork’s Red Urban Zone to just €1 after 2pm every day from today to mid September.
  • From today half price parking will be offered at Paul Street and North Main Street car parks from 1pm to 6.30pm.
  • The opening hours of the city’s Park And Ride service will be extended to between 7am and 8pm The Park And Ride will be free of charge from 12 noon.

The council said that traffic congestion in Cork is now worse than it was at the height of the economic boom in 2007. Two thirds of the 110,000 vehicles entering the city centre every day are using it as a “through route” to other destinations.

It said this through traffic brings no benefit to businesses in the city and makes it more difficult for those who work, visit and shop in the city centre to get around.

A spokesman for Cork City Council said that the changes are needed to plan for Cork’s future.

He said: “The changes to traffic flow in Cork are due to exciting developments in the city. Cork city centre will soon have over 10,000 additional new jobs, 5,000 over the next three years and our traffic management system needs to be updated if we are to keep the city and its growing workforce moving.

“A considerable body of engineering work has already been completed by Cork City Council on the city quays to facilitate the changes which are limited to St. Patrick’s Street only. Even in the short period in which the changes operated in March/April last, bus journey times showed decreases of up 28% and car journey times in the city centre also showed significant improvements.”

street How the diversions will work. CCC CCC

However, there has been pushback to the plans.

City councillor Tim Brosnan (FF) said the scheme would be bad for the city as a whole. He said that the plan would hurt small businesses in the city and was “hammering the character of the city”.

“It’s absolute madness.

“It would be as easy for the buses to go around St Patrick’s Street – it’s just as easy to walk to the South Mall or the quays.

“Bus Éireann is the one thing that’s not changing.

“It will affect people coming in and out of town.  Taking cars out won’t help the city or the buses – there’ll be traffic jams in the suburbs and other knock-on effects.

“They’re engineering things to a standstill.”

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    Mute Alan mulvey
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    Jan 14th 2015, 7:09 AM

    Have they not being talking about this since the boom?

    106
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    Mute Mick Kenny
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    Jan 14th 2015, 3:57 PM

    It smells like political posturing to me. The info in the paper during was in direct contradiction of what the minister said before Christmas – ruling out tax credits because as he said in a parliamentary question a system of tax allowances would not benefit parents working in the home and could be seen as discriminatory. In addition, tax reliefs would favour the high paid while those on the minimum wage or in part-time work would not benefit to the same extent. Secondly he ruled out the second ECCE year now it back on the table. He’s doing a political cha cha because of the growing momentum for the Association of Childhood Professionals petition and 17th February rally which is even more reason to keep the pressure going. These hollow promises are just to attempt to quieten voices but I for one was raging when I read the article. This committee too is just a stalling tactic too, it will take several months for the committee to be formed, compile the data, launch it, then it will gather dust for a bit and hay presto it’s election time and they’re gone. Surly there is enough reports done of the years that can be dusted off and acted on. I for one will be at the Dail on 17th Feb with the ACP using my voice and looking for positive change. #oneunitedvoice (rant over)

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    Mute Mick Kenny
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    Jan 14th 2015, 3:59 PM

    Here’s the link for the petition for the government to invest in our children early years education, please support, sign and share https://www.change.org/p/enda-kenny-respect-value-and-resource-all-areas-of-early-childhood-education-and-care

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    Mute Michael cunnane
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    Jan 14th 2015, 8:10 AM

    Childcare costs….like paying two mortgages.

    87
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    Mute Eugene Doyle
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    Jan 14th 2015, 7:36 AM

    The problem is…..it is election spin!!!

    77
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    Mute Stuart Keogh
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    Jan 14th 2015, 10:02 AM

    Course it is, it’s the same government that threatened to cut child benefit if we didn’t sign up to IW, “but childcare services are important to them” pffffft

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    Mute Nobby Donnelly
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    Jan 14th 2015, 7:17 AM

    Still early – i thought the headline was about making irish children more adorable..

    71
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    Mute Jennie
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    Jan 14th 2015, 9:08 AM

    That made me smile this morning. Thank you

    7
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    Mute selita
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    Jan 14th 2015, 9:36 AM

    The first thing they need to do is look at the childcare subvention scheme and community childcare.

    Why oh why are the government subsidising childcare for those who choose not to work.
    Yes I know there will be do-gooders who will say the child needs it, that maybe these parents are looking for work etc. there is millions wasted, I work in the community sector and as a working parent there is nothing that drives me mad than meeting parents (who choose NOT to work) leaving their kids off at crèche a few mornings a week, so that they get ‘a break’ and pay between €20-€30(and complain having to pay this) for the privilege as the government subsidises this. Yet I have to pay full crèche fees of a grand and pay tax. While there are numerous families struggling to pay bills and childcare, there are huge numbers of subsidised crèche places being taking up by parents who do not work or train and do not want to!!

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    Mute Rakel
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    Jan 14th 2015, 10:57 AM

    Selita, maybe the fact that some people ‘choose’ to stay at home and take responsibility for the majority of their childs care should be praised and not criticised. Of course people who do this have less money and that is why they need subsidised fees, or are they simply not entitled to a ‘break’ because they don’t put their child in crèche for 8+ hours a day and subscribe to a societal norm that is about as anti-family as it gets!

    10
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    Mute Rakel
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    Jan 14th 2015, 11:00 AM

    Caring for a child/family is very much work as you should know. So sick of people undervaluing the role of the parent in the home.

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    Mute Henry Fleming
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    Jan 14th 2015, 11:15 AM

    Rakel, looks like you completely missed the point made!!

    25
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    Mute Rakel
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    Jan 14th 2015, 12:12 PM

    No I see her point Henry, and have no problem with the cost of childcare coming down for working families, but I didn’t like her comments in relation to parents who don’t work!

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    Mute mammy
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    Jan 14th 2015, 1:54 PM

    But how are they going to go and buy their breakfast rolls and Johnny blues without having to share with the chizzlers?

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    Mute selita
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    Jan 14th 2015, 4:35 PM

    I am not undervaluing the stay at home parent, it is something I would aspire to be!!! Rakel I am talking about parents (both) who CHOOSE NOT to work and have no intention of working, having numerous kids….claim social welfare benefits, social housing etc. Parents not wanting to work and putting there child into a crèche 20-25 hours per week is hardly looking after their children? if I didn’t have to work I wouldn’t have my kids in crèche, why would I? as a working mother when do I get a break, im up at 6am, kids feed and clothed, dropped off, in work run of my feet, work through lunch so I can get out early, pick up kids, spend time with them, make dinner, bed time routine, clean up and finally sit down at 10pm and off to bed at 10.30, woken at least once a night by my baby.
    I HAVE to work in order to keep a roof over my kids head, if I gave up work we would lose our home, I cant sell as we are in negative equity, I would love a large family, but that is not possible.

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    Mute martintim
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    Jan 14th 2015, 7:47 AM

    Anyone who believes them needs their head examined, they’ll make the price higher with some kind of creche tax if anything

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    Mute Alison Kenny
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    Jan 14th 2015, 7:58 AM

    And it will only apply to crèches even if you have a childminder through the tax system. Seems fair, not!!!

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    Mute Philip
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    Jan 14th 2015, 11:59 AM

    Those that choose to look after their own children rather than get some stranger to look after them.

    What help are they getting?

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    Mute Snorre N Skalagrimmerson
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    Jan 14th 2015, 9:58 AM

    Pure spin by the anti family anti people FG/LAB JUNTA

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    Mute deerhounddog
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    Jan 14th 2015, 8:30 AM

    Pune spin.

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    Mute deerhounddog
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    Jan 14th 2015, 8:34 AM

    Pure spin

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    Mute Richie Rice
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    Jan 14th 2015, 8:25 AM

    What else would it be, soak it up Pixies.

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    Mute Live Long
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    Jan 14th 2015, 10:14 AM

    Child care should be more affordable but not on the backs of the tax payer, we pay enough as it is to support other peoples children.

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    Mute Sian O Sullivan
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    Jan 14th 2015, 10:47 AM

    So are you suggesting everyone should fill out a little form every month indicating what their tax should be spent on ???

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    Mute Mick Kenny
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    Jan 14th 2015, 4:02 PM

    these are the future tax payers who will be paying into you pension and elderly care, try to see the big picture.

    3
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