The Government has announced details of a new capital investment plan for counties Cork and Kerry.
Six Government ministers attended an event at the Irish Marine Energy Research Cluster (IMERC) in Co Cork, which is one of the projects being funded under the programme with a €25 million funding commitment "to support jobs, and urban renewal and regeneration in the area".
Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin said the plan for Cork and Kerry would mean providing "vital facilities" for people in the form of roads, schools, health care, housing and policing. It would, he said, support an estimated 45,000 construction jobs.
He added the plan would involve investing capital spending to “strengthen the environment for job creation”.
Funding was announced for road projects, including the Dunkettle interchange and the N28.
Other projects include €30 million for the building of a new Pairc Ui Chaoimh, €12 million for the city’s Events Centre, and €25 million for IMERC projects.
The capital plan includes investment in Cork University Hospital, with funding provided for the new radiation oncology unit there. The plan also supports the roll-out of primary care centres.
The programme will fund 32 new construction projects for schools in Cork, on top of the projects already announced in the Schools Capital Plan 2012-2016.
The Government said it would also invest in flood defence schemes, with the “largest flood relief scheme ever undertaken” in the State being developed for Cork City.
The city will also receive investment of €124 million to provide 1,349 social homes by 2017. Co Cork will receive €80.5 million to provide 1,217 social homes by 2017.
The plan also contains a €60 million funding commitment for the clean-up of Haulbowline.
In Kerry, nine new school projects were announced for construction, as well as a €62 million investment in social housing.
The plan also pledges to increase the number of gardaí and Garda cars, as well as refurbish Tralee Garda Station.
In addition, the Kerry Sports Academy at IT Tralee is to receive €7 million in funding under the plan. Road projects, like the Dingle relief road and the N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom, are also included.
The six ministers in attendance at the event in Cork were Mr Howlin, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney, and Ministers of State Jimmy Deenihan, Kathleen Lynch, Dara Murphy and Sean Sherlock.
