Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I was in the training centre in Cork last year. It was very impressive to see the plans there. It is to be hoped that these will bear fruit in producing extra drivers to fill those vacancies. I read an article earlier this month in which Bus Éireann CEO Stephen Kent said that approximately 2,000 extra drivers were required. I assume that is building on the future improvements with BusConnects and so on. As the Minister said, we are well short of that and are struggling to recruit what is currently required.

The big difficulty I have, speaking with my Cork North-Central hat on, is with the 214 bus service in Glanmire, where I live. It has been described nationally as the worst performing route in the country as regards buses turning up on time or at all. When we talk to Bus Éireann about it, it blames traffic congestion - a lot of construction is going on in Glanmire at present - but the shortage of drivers is specifically referenced. What further steps can the Minister take to improve the 214 service?

See this speech in context