Call for ‘joined up’ approach for Cork's rural bus services

A more “joined up” approach is needed if the real potential of rural bus routes in Cork is to be fully realised according to independent councillor Finbarr Harrington.

Mr Harrington raised the issue when he proposed a motion to the recent meeting of the West Cork Municipal District. The motion asked: “That this council would write to TFI (Transport for Ireland) and Bus Éireann and invite them to a meeting to discuss a way of coordinating their services better in order to make Cork more accessible. 

"These services are the only means of transport for many people and sometimes bus routes never meet making it difficult for people commuting.”

He said: “These services are the only means of transport for many people but in some cases the bus routes never meet. For example the Mizen bus from Barleycove to Ballydehob and the Kilcrohane and Durrus service never meet. So you've got people from the Mizen who could go to Beara and vice-versa but the buses never overlap.”

Mr Harrington said that if services were properly integrated it would benefit the whole county. “People could travel to Bandon, Kinsale, Clonakilty and on to East Cork. Especially for retired people who could head off on the bus, stay overnight. It would be a massive support for B&Bs, for our hotels and pubs if they could travel through the whole county independently and come and go as they please.”

It was agreed for the motion to be sent to the Corporate Policy Group to ask if it can be referred to the Development Committee.

This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.