We need better roads, housing and transport options for our staff, says Cork Apple boss

The poor bus service, coupled with the slow progress of a planned new road around the north city, are both posing challenges for staff, the boss of Apple in Cork has said.

Cathy Kearney, Apple’s vice-president of European Operations, called for further investment in Cork transport, roads infrastructure and housing, at Friday’s event to mark the opening of the tech giant’s new Hollyhill 5 facility.

Referring to the planned Northern Distributor Road, a 14km route that will take commuters from the Carrigrohane Road on the city’s westside to Glanmire in the east, crossing over the city via Hollyhill, Ms Kearney said it was an important element of future plans, because of the poor transport options for the facility’s 6,000 staff.

“It is a challenge, we have been clear on that,” she told The Echo, referencing commuter distances for staff. The 202 bus route goes directly into Apple’s campus, but there have long been reliability problems with Cork buses.

Ms Kearney said: “We have our own bus fleet, because it was such a challenge for people.”

“We also really wanted to help from an environmental impact perspective because we had so many people coming in cars.

“We are pushing public transport and trying to get that ramped up, and I know it is a government priority, but a lot of infrastructure work needs to happen to enable that.” Ms Kearney added that the Taoiseach was aware of the importance of the Northern Distributor Road to Apple. “People are commuting too long in the mornings,” said Ms Kearney.

She said that the housing crisis is also an issue for staff.

“It’s always a challenge,” she said. “I think it’s a national challenge, it’s a challenge in many other countries. I think the policies will make a difference and hopefully we begin to see some light on that side as well.”

She also noted the deep connections between Apple and the local Hollyhill community.

“It’s part of who we are, we live in Cork. Our team pretty much lives in the Cork area and so for us it’s really important that we’re not just inward-focussed but that we’re outward-focussed and that we contribute to the environment we operate in.” 

Speaking at the same event, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Apple team had been “working constructively with Cork City Council” to progress the Northern Distributor Road.

At the end of last year, Cork City Council formally selected the preferred route for the road after extensive public consultation, but said the tender process to actually build the project will not start until 2031.

The road has been included in the Government’s National Development Plan, with estimated costs of between €200m and €500m.

The Taoiseach acknowleged that the current infrastructure was causing problems for the company: 

“Here in Apple in Cork, they have been very clear to us that this is a challenge, and they certainly want, as I do, for this project to be accelerated.”

The Apple boss said the tech firm also works a lot with schools in the locality, including a TY programme which welcomes 100 students every week.

She continued: “We’re really lucky, we have a very strong volunteering programme, we are the strongest volunteering participation site of any in Apple which is something to be really proud of. The Apple matching programme really makes a difference to those charities.

“It’s not just the time, it’s also the money charities get. We contribute to about 600 charities across Ireland, but the local ones do really well, which is great, because it’s where we live.”