Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I just want to make it clear: the Minister agrees with me that Parnell Place bus station is in a shocking condition at the moment and then in the same tone, he said that funding might be there in two years' time. We need funding now. We need a proper bus station now. We need proper bus, toilet and changing facilities. The Minister outlined everything that is being done but another question being asked in Cork is whether Parnell Place is the right location for the bus station. Would we be better off investing in it right now to bring it up to standard? People have asked whether it would be better located next to the train station. I have not looked into the data about that. Maybe the Minister has and maybe Bus Éireann has but what I can tell the Minister right now, today, is that Parnell Place bus station is a disgrace and it is under the Minister's watch. Is he going to provide funding for works to be started now?

How much money is spent on maintenance? I went in there recently. A number of people have contacted me to say they were ashamed of their lives. It is dirty and filthy. How could you bring anyone into the city? Whatever about tourists, what about our own people, young people and older people, who are going in there now? I am asking the Minister if he will commit today to providing funding to get immediate works started there and a plan put in place. Right now, it is not good enough.

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