Dozens attend protest on Cork city bus services

A group of up to 100 protestors attended a gathering in Cork today, to stand up against “a broken service.” 

The protest, supported by Sinn Fein Cork North Central TD, Thomas Gould, targeted Bus Éireann and its services within the city centre and surrounds.

The event saw the group of protestors walk from Parnell Bus Station to Penrose Wharf where the National Transport Authority (NTA) has its Cork offices.

Speeches were delivered by a number of passengers, alongside Mr Gould and People Before Profit-Solidarity Cork North-Central TD, Mick Barry.

Speaking to The Echo, Colla McMahon, a regular user of the 214 and 208 bus route, said: “The buses have been running so irregularly for the past number of years and it’s disrupting how people get to work.

“It disrupts people’s lifestyles, and I think that I and everyone else have just had enough.

“More drivers and more buses would help.

“There was a tram system that cork had until the 1950s, which could definitely do with being reinstated.

“I know there was talk around it a couple of years ago, about how it might be brought in by 2030, but realistic plans need to be put in place until then,” he added.

Michael O Donovan, who uses the 206 bus route, said: “We have no complaints about the drivers, it’s the timetable.

“It’s ongoing - we can’t get buses - it’s a broken service.

“The app is serving no purpose at all, I don’t know why they’re saying a bus will be there and then it’s cancelled.

“What they need to do is they should split the routes up, and recruit new drivers,” he added.

“We’d be better off to have one bus an hour and it turns up, rather than four an hour that don’t show up.

“They’re encouraging people to use public transport, but we can’t be totally dependent on it because we might not get home.” 

Carol Wallace, a regular user of the number 6 bus route, said: “We come out to get the bus and the app will say 3 minutes, but then the next minute it’s cancelled.

“I was 68 minutes waiting for a bus the last day, and it’s just elderly people I would be worried about.

“It’s shocking,” she added. “I know there’s a shortage of drivers but it’s not just that, something needs to be done.” 

Teresa Geogheghan, who uses the 203 bus route, said: “We’re here because we’re sick and tired of waiting out in the rain.

“Winter is coming now and we would be out there waiting two to three hours, and no buses.

“They [Bus Éireann] have no drivers, and we don’t know [how to fix it], we’re just left there waiting,” she added.

“Where I’m living, there’s an ageing population, and we can’t get into town to go shopping, because we can’t get back out.” 

Mr Gould said: “People are dependent on the bus service, and at this moment in time, people cannot depend on this service in Cork. 

“There is a crisis in the bus service and the NTA, Bus Éireann and Cork City Council need to come together with drivers to find solutions.

“People are late to work and missing hospital appointments because Bus Éireann are short staffed.

“The app is a disaster and people cannot rely on it, splitting routes seems to be a solution, it won’t solve all of it, but it will help.” 

Mr Barry said: “There is a crisis in retention and a crisis in morale amongst staff [at Bus Éireann].

“There has been years and years of under investment in the bus service in Cork.

“We need decent wages, decent conditions, and an investment into our public services.”