Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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95. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will commit to the development of an orbital bus service for Mallow to alleviate traffic congestion in the town centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48988/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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Will the Minister for Transport commit to the development of an orbital bus service for the town of Mallow to alleviate the traffic congestion in Mallow? As we are aware, the Government made a commitment previously to build a northern distributor road around Mallow but, to date, it has not been delivered. I accept that takes time. Will the Minister commit in the meantime, for the next seven years, to establishing a north-south orbital bus route for Mallow to ease congestion in the town?

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy O'Flynn for this very important question, and for his commitment to the people of Mallow. I look forward to working with him because we both share a desire to see the town of Mallow continue to flourish and develop. As he is aware, the National Transport Authority's Local Link and rural transport programme is, in the case of Cork, managed and administered in Cork by the Local Link offices in Bantry and Fermoy.

Cork has seen considerable investment in regular rural bus services including the introduction of a number of new bus services. The route 530, connecting Fermoy and Mallow, began in August this year. Current passenger numbers are approximately 400 per week and are expected to grow over time as the route settles into operation. Route 243, from Newmarket to Cork via Mallow, was also enhanced in June. Route 515, connecting Mallow to Killarney, is at an advanced stage of planning and the commencement date is subject to the availability of funding. An increase in funding for public transport services, including rural transport, will be considered in the upcoming budget 2026 discussions.

Any additional proposals are considered as part of an ongoing review of rural transport and town services. I am informed by the NTA that it has no current plans to introduce an orbital local bus service in Mallow. However, the NTA has told me that it will explore options to provide local public transport connections within Mallow on new and existing local and regional services, subject to securing relevant stopping place approvals and construction of bus stop infrastructure, which is important.

In February this year, an Exchequer investment of €713 million for regional and local roads - as mentioned by the Deputy - across the State was also announced, under which Cork County Council received an allocation of approximately €83 million. In this allocation, €700,000 was put aside for the Mallow relief road. The scheme consists of a bypass of Mallow with the objective of removing east-west traffic from the town centre. The options selection phase has been completed, and as the Deputy is aware, a submission to An Coimisiún Pleanála is expected in April 2026. I will conclude on this point. The Government and I believe that the impact of the Mallow relief road project on traffic in Mallow town centre will be significant.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Minister of State can come back in.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I look forward to working further with the Deputy to alleviate the traffic gridlock.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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I thank the Minister of State. I am very grateful for his help in securing the money for the Mallow distributor road. We accept that it is vital that we get it up and running. In the meantime, I am delighted with the Minister of State's reply to the effect that the NTA is exploring looking at putting the orbital route in place. The Minister of State visited my constituency several times. I invite him to Mallow to have a look at the congestion. I know he is very familiar with the area. I would like to bring him to see what downtown Mallow is like. The fact is that you cannot get from Ballyviniter into the town itself, and we do not have enough parking. It is a wonderful, fantastic town. I chose to live there myself for the last 24 years, but it does have its challenges. Until we have the Mallow distributor road built, we need orbital bus routes to get the traffic off the streets because it is so spread out, and because it has been a success story with housing estate after housing estate. Orbital bus routes could be very helpful. That could probably be introduced as part of the Fermoy to Mallow bus service.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy and call on the Minister of State to respond.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I look forward to coming to visit Mallow. Deputy Colm Burke, who is sitting behind me, has also asked me to go there. I look forward to meeting with Deputy O'Flynn in Mallow. I visited Mallow recently.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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The Minister of State never called in.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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Perhaps the Deputy was not there. There is an issue in the centre of Mallow and going from A to B. There is traffic gridlock going to the roundabout heading towards the Killarney Road, coming from Fermoy, which requires a lot of patience and persistence by motorists and cyclists alike. However, let us look at what the Government has done in the town of Mallow in terms of the frequency of the rail service, investing in light rail and public transport, including Leap cards and the station in Mallow.

I take the Deputy's point. There is more that we can do. The NTA and TFI Local Link are looking at the whole plan. There is a plan for a regular rural service in the morning and demand-response services. It is important for overall connectivity that we make it easier for people and services there in terms of lighting and getting on and off at bus stops. I will visit Mallow with Deputy O'Flynn.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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Perhaps he can bring me to the particular spots where he thinks there should be bus stops as well.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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That is no problem at all. As he is aware, the Minister of State is more than welcome in my home and he is certainly more than welcome in my local pub as well, Albert Lynch's.

He has outlined what Mallow needs. I accept that we also need to have a commitment not just to the Mallow distributor road but to the northern ring road around Cork and to the Cork to Limerick road, which will be key infrastructure for delivering to the town of Mallow and Cork North-Central.

I was disturbed, upset and perturbed when I heard the leader of the Labour Party last week on Leaders' Questions. She was very much at odds with her backbenchers. She objected to the building of roads and took umbrage with the Government and the Minister who was standing in for the Taoiseach on the day. She said that we are not building enough bicycle lanes and the Government has rowed back on its commitment. There are many things I can criticise the Government for, but it has been very good at building bicycle lanes. There has been a very good commitment from this new Administration when it comes to the building of roads.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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Does the Minister of State agree that we should ask the Labour Party leader-----

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy. The Minister of State should respond.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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The line Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I have €92 million more for roads this year and I hope we will have more next year in the budget. There is a real need for this funding. Deputy Colm Burke has a question on the Cork to Limerick motorway. We need that motorway. All of us who travel that road know that is the case from an economic point of view and from a safety point of view, and we want to see the motorway built. The sum of €700,000 has been allocated to the Mallow relief road. That scheme will provide increased scope for development and enhancement of the public realm.

To be fair, we do need bicycle lanes and to support active travel measures. Mallow is a thriving town. Deputy O'Flynn is absolutely right. We want to see it grow and develop further. I look forward to seeing that happen for the residents and businesses in Mallow, but it is also part of Our Rural Future, and involves the Department of Transport and my other Department - the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. We want to see thriving towns like Mallow acting as a hub and offering a link. Part of that is an enhanced public transport offering.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I look forward to working with all Members. Deputy O'Flynn referred to other Members of the House. We should bring them on a journey.