RTE SPENDING €3M ON Time is night for city bus to lift economy LAND IT SOLD LAST YEAR
Costs include security & ‘general site works’
A NIGHTLINK bus service for a city centre has been called for by a senator.
Fine Gael representative Jerry Buttimer said a service similar to the one in Dublin would make Cork more accessible.
He added: “Many people whom I have spoken to have raised the issue with me of trying to get home after a night out.
“This initiative would increase accessibility and would be major boost to Cork’s night time economy.
“Cork is well-known for its culture and nightlife, and I believe that this service would allow even more people to enjoy what Cork city has to offer”. Montrose campus MORE than €3million is being spent by RTE on security and other costs linked to the sale of nine acres of prime land on the Montrose campus.
Last year the national broadcaster sold 8.64 acres to Cairn Homes for €107.5million which was more than €30million above the guide price. Up to 500 houses and apartments are planned to be built at the site in Dublin.
An RTE spokesman said: “To deliver the lands unencumbered to the purchaser, a series of sales-enabling and relocation projects were required to be carried out, both pre-sale and subsequent to the sale... €3.1million will be incurred this year.
“Sales-enabling includes extensive site works, external and internal roadworks, new entrances, walkways, traffic flows, security, parking and general site works and fittings.
“There are two new signs on site – at the entrance, and to the front of the canteen.the individual supplier costs on these [would be confidential] and housed within the broader land sales-enabling project costs.”
The new signage was erected on the Donnybrook campus two weeks ago.
RTE will have to pay a tax bill of more than €20million on the sale of its land, while €10million of the proceeds Dee Forbes have been used to pay down part of its debt, senior management said.
The “Project Montrose” site – which represents just over a quarter of RTE’S existing 32.12-acre campus – is expected to attract interest from a wide range of Irish and international investors.
RTE has been carrying out broad restructuring of operations and infrastructure for the past several years, which has already seen the shedding of almost 300 jobs through voluntary exit and early retirement schemes.
Director General Dee Forbes said: “It may appear to some that RTE has plenty of money.
“But given the scope and breadth of our statutory obligations, the range of services we must provide and the nature and scale of the competition we face, RTE now has inadequate resources.”
ON HOW THE STATION IS STRETCHED
Given our range of services... RTE has inadequate resources DEE FORBES