Dominick Donnelly

5^th March 2009

Following the introduction of a reduced timetable on the Cross River Ferry between Glenbrook and Carrigaloe earlier this week, Green Party candidate for the Carrigaline area of Cork County Council and Passage West Town Council, Cllr. Dominick Donnelly said:  “This reduction in the timetable of the Cross River Ferry is disastrous for the communities around the harbour.  The Cross River Ferry is a vital piece of local infrastructure which joins the communities on both sides of the harbour, and helps them work together.  The fact that the last ferry now runs at about 10 pm, whereas previously the last ferry went at about midnight, will cause all sorts of problems for a large number of people and organisations around the harbour.  The alternative to using the ferry to get across the lower harbour is a round trip via the Jack Lynch Tunnel of over ten miles.  I call on the owners of the Cross River Ferry to reverse this decision to reduce the timetable.”

Cllr. Donnelly continued:  “This reduced service will make it very difficult for people living on one side of the harbour to participate in evening social events on the other side of the harbour.  It will also make it very difficult for organisations with representation from both sides of the harbour to hold evening meetings.  I am involved in two such organisations, the Cork Harbour Environmental Protection Association (CHEPA) and Cork Harbour for A Safe Environment (CHASE), and having to have all meetings finished in time for people to get the last ferry at 10 pm will prove difficult, if not impossible.  This does not auger well for cross harbour cohesion, which has been a growing strength in the harbour.  This decision simply must be reversed.”