Bus corridors key to provision of new Cork park and ride facilities

A report on potential park and ride facilities in Cork should be ready before the end of this year, but their provision may be dependent on bus services improving.

Cork Fianna Fáil TD Aindrias Moynihan asked transport minister Darragh O’Brien to provide a list of all park and ride projects under consideration or development by the NTA for Cork, including location, current status, estimated capacity, estimated cost, planning status, and delivery timeline.

Mr O’Brien said that the programme for government commits to working with local authorities and relevant agencies to develop affordable park and ride facilities on the outskirts of major towns and cities.

He said the National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for planning and developing park and ride sites and is leading their development and rollout nationwide through the Park and Ride Development Office (PRDO). He said he had asked the NTA for an update on the topic.

“Pending this more detailed response, I note that the PRDO is currently developing a park and ride strategy for the Cork Metropolitan Area, building on the framework set out in the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy 2040. This document should be ready for publication in late 2026,” he said.

In 2024, Cork City Council director of infrastructure Gerry O’Beirne said the Cork Metropolitan Area transport strategy identifies six indicative locations for park and ride facilities, including Blarney/Stoneview, Dunkettle, Carr’s Hill, Bandon Rd, and Ballincollig. However, he said these facilities would be reliant on bus corridors being delivered through BusConnects first, as “park and ride facilities are not attractive to potential users if the related bus service is hampered by general traffic congestion”.