Multi-billion-euro bus improvements for Cork on hold pending legislation

By Peter McCarthy, Corkman

An ambitious plan to increase bus services in Cork by almost half, with new routes and more buses on existing ones, can’t go ahead until primary legislation is passed, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has confirmed.

The NTA’s Director of Transport Planning & Investment Hugh Creegan told Cork City Councillor Oliver Moran that the NTA requires the legislation to empower it to make the necessary planning applications to An Coimisiún Pleanála for BusConnects in Cork.

The NTA was originally established as the Dublin Transport Authority, with powers in the Greater Dublin Area, and a change in the law is required to allow it to implement BusConnects outside of Dublin.

The multi-billion-euro BusConnects Cork investment programme is set to deliver 11 Sustainable Transport Corridors (STC) across Cork city, covering 90km of bus lanes and 95km of cycle lanes. The redesigned bus network will have 53pc more bus services in place, with two routes — Ovens/Ballincollig to City Centre to Mahon and Carrigaline to City Centre to Hollyhill — operating 24-hours.

Also part of the plan are a zero-emissions bus fleet, next generation ticketing, seven all-day, high frequency bus routes running every 15 minutes or better and bus services to previously unserved areas such as Upper Glanmire, Waterfall and Kerry Pike.

The scheme was approved by cabinet in November. The government estimates that delivery of the capital programme will cost between €2.3 and €3.5 bn.

The next step is that planning applications for the new bus and active travel infrastructure be lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála by the NTA but first the necessary legislation must be passed. The outline of that legislation has been approved by the government and is included in the Spring 2026 legislative programme.

Green Party Councillor Moran has criticised the holdup. “There seems to be no end in delay in delivering anything from the current government. Cork City Council is ready, residents are on board, employers are saying it’s affecting their businesses.

"Housing is being objected to because of the lack of public transport and for ordinary commuters it can't come soon enough. Now primary legislation needs to change? Surely they knew about this.”

"We have a government that makes hay over every cause for delay, blaming everyone from Met Éireann to the environment itself. This in a city the Taoiseach himself is supposed to represent, wants to head-up a task force on, and is making all kinds of noises about who is to blame for the pace of delivering infrastructure. It's not good enough, we've waited far too long already. They need to deliver it or get out of the way to make room for someone else,” he said.