The NTA had previously agreed to the expansion of the 233 Macroom to Cork route serving villages such as Coachford, Kilmurry, Crookstown, Cloughduv, Aherla, Killumney as well as Ballingeary, Inchigeela. This was approved for roll-out in 2020.
Aindrias Moynihan, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North West has been questioning Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan on why this expansion has been stalled.
“The current 233 service is not fit for purpose. The NTA have recognised that expansion of this service is required and yet it has stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It should not be the case that we should park all such projects at this time. The coronavirus crisis should not mean that everything stops. Plans should continue in the meantime and there should be a readiness to roll out improved services.
“Although Minister Ryan has acknowledged that it is very important that we have good, high-quality and high-frequency public transport services such as the Macroom to Cork route, all plans are stalled. We need action on this. I have called on the Minister to advance these plans immediately.
“The Minister should be bringing along those plans and making bus service improvements available to people within months, rather than pushing them off into the never-never or for several years. The communities in these areas have waited long enough” concluded Deputy Moynihan.