Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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227. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current status of the BusConnects Cork programme, including consultation feedback, revised routing, and delivery milestones; and to set out the budget ring-fenced for the scheme in 2026–2030. [48385/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in the bus system, providing better bus services across five cities. It is the largest investment in the bus system in the history of the State and is managed by the National Transport Authority (NTA).

In Cork, following a public consultation, the new BusConnects network was published in June 2022, and it aims to provide an increase of over 50% in bus services across the city. Planning for the implementation of the new bus network has commenced and it is expected that the new network will be implemented on a phased basis in the coming years.

Another key component of the BusConnects Cork programme is the implementation of bus priority measures, generally bus lanes, on key bus corridors serving the city. A third round of non-statutory public consultation on the 11 Sustainable Transport Corridors ran from November to December 2023.

The NTA submitted the Preliminary Business Case for Cork BusConnects to my Department in January 2025. In line with the Infrastructure Guidelines, the business case has been reviewed by my officials and by the Major Projects Advisory Group (MPAG). The MPAG’s final report on the business case is expected in the coming weeks, after which I intend to bring BusConnects Cork to Government. If approved by Cabinet at Approval Gate 1 of the Infrastructure Guidelines, this will allow the programme to enter the planning process.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's specific question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office, if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.