Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

BusConnects Cork is the NTA's plan for the development and delivery of a sustainable, high-quality bus system for the Cork metropolitan area. The NTA is developing plans to introduce 12 new sustainable transport corridors, which will encompass 93 km of bus lanes and 112 km of cycle lanes across the city. Investing in a sustainable future for Cork is vital for supporting the city's growth over the coming two decades. Following two earlier rounds of public consultation, the NTA launched its new design for the Cork metropolitan bus network in June, with consultation closing on 3 October. Submissions received during that process are now being considered by the NTA and a further round of public consultation on the revised proposals will take place next year.

The new network is intended to transform the public transport network across the whole Cork metropolitan area. The new network will involve the creation of new bus routes and improved bus frequencies and will provide an increase of over 50% in bus services across the city, helping to transform the public transport system to meet anticipated growth and future travel demand in the region. To date, no decisions have been made regarding how services will be secured. The NTA has a directly awarded contract with Bus Éireann for bus services in Cork and this contract may be varied as a means to provide some services. Alternatively, the NTA may elect to seek an operator or operators by public tender. In either case, the NTA will ensure that providers of contracted services comply with all relevant Irish and European law, including employment law.

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