Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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244. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if assurance can be given that no existing bus route will be terminated due to Cork BusConnects. [37769/21]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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245. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to bring a bus service to Whitechurch, County Cork. [37770/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together.

I welcome the National Transport Authority’s recent publication of the ‘Bus Network Redesign Choices Report’ and launch of public consultation in relation to BusConnects Cork.

I am committed to improving public transport services and infrastructure in Cork and the progress now seen on developing BusConnects Cork complements the approximately €185million to be invested in the suburban rail network between now and 2026.

The BusConnects programme will seek to transform for the better bus services and infrastructure in the Cork metropolitan area. I would encourage all public representatives to take part in this first phase of public consultation and raise issues such as those referred to by the Deputy as part of that consultation. In engaging with the process I would also encourage people to adopt an open mind as regards the scale and nature of the change required if we are to transform the bus network and deliver an improved bus system in Cork.