Concern over timelines for Cork BusConnects infrastructure

The Government has approved BusConnects Cork, which will increase bus services in the city by more than 50%, but concerns have been raised around delays in the planning process and the publication of final routes. 

Darragh O’Brien, the transport minister, announced this week that the approval “will facilitate the lodgement of planning applications with An Coimisiún Pleanála for new bus and active travel infrastructure, which is expected to occur next year”.

The programme will deliver 11 sustainable transport corridors across Cork city, covering 90km of bus lanes and 95km of cycle lanes, as well as new bus shelters.

The redesigned bus network will have 50% more bus services in place, with two routes operating 24 hours.

“As a result of this programme, an extra 13,000 people will be able to reach Cork city entre by public transport from their homes within 30 minutes,” Mr O’Brien said. “And by reducing congestion, it will make our streets safer for all.”

The final budget and delivery schedule will be established for approval following the planning/procurement phases. At present, it is anticipated delivery costs will range from €2.3bn to €3.5bn.

Darren McAdam O’Connell of the Cork Transport and Mobility Forum told The Echo: “We welcome this further step in achieving the vision of BusConnects. At present buses are regularly delayed or cancelled. BusConnects hopes to eliminate this, and to ensure that people who need to get to work, shop, or socialise in the city can get there quickly and reliably by bus.

“We are however, slightly concerned at the length of time it is taking to build infrastructure which other countries can build in a far shorter period of time.”

Sinn Féin councillor Joe Lynch said the news that permission would be applied for next year was, in fact, a delay, pointing to a response he got from the NTA last summer which said that plans would be lodged with An Comisiún Pleanála “on a phased basis commencing mid 2025”.

“BusConnects Cork has been in progress for over three years, with Cork City Council recently approving infrastructure to facilitate two new bus routes,” Mr Lynch said.

He said the transport minister’s announcement was “a desperate attempt to try and manufacture a positive news story for Cork, when in reality — buried in the detail — is an admission of failure; that planning permissions for the various sustainable transport corridors will not now be lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála until next year, when this was supposed to have happened already.”

Labour TD Eoghan Kenny called for the immediate publication of the proposed routes, saying: “The people who rely on public transport every day deserve to know what’s being planned for their city."