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

The Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options and the enhancement of public transport offerings is key to that goal. As Minister for Transport, my responsibility is to direct policy and overall funding related to public transport.

With respect to services in County Cork, it is the NTA that has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, including the roll-out of TFI Local Link services and those under the new Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan. To that end, I have been advised that the NTA is in the process of planning the reconfiguration of route 233 between Macroom and Cork with a view to improving the existing levels of service. A target date for implementation of revised services on this corridor is not yet available as the work is ongoing and a public consultation exercise is planned to inform the development of proposals.

As I am sure the Deputy is aware, Connecting Ireland has been hugely successful since implementation began in 2022, with passenger numbers on the TFI Local Link regular bus services increasing by 78% year on year to 3.2 million passengers last year.

Specifically, on the Macroom to Bandon route proposed under the Connecting Ireland plan, I advise the Deputy that the NTA is in the process of finalising the new and enhanced services being prioritised this year, as set out in the budget 2024 allocations.

I am not yet in a position to confirm whether or when this service will be implemented this year as any decisions made will be contingent on decisions around the prioritisation of routes, which is done by the NTA.

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