Concern over new review of 220 bus service to Ballincollig
CONCERNS have been raised over the review of the Ballincollig bus service by a Sinn Féin local area representative who said it can’t be used to delay improvements to the service.
Joe Lynch, who is a Sinn Féin local election candidate for Cork City South West said that the review of the 220 bus service being undertaken by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Bus Éireann can’t be used as an excuse to delay improvements to the service that were promised earlier this year.
Mr Lynch said an ‘increasing’ number of people are experiencing a poor level of service.
“It has been clear for some time that an increasing number of people are experiencing a poor level of service on the 220/220X bus route to Ballincollig. This has been well-flagged with the NTA and Bus Éireann; with Thomas Gould TD and I writing to them six months ago highlighting various concerns,” he said.
Mr Lynch listed out some of the current issues with the 220/220X bus routes to Ballincollig.
“There have been instances of buses disappearing from real-time boards, buses by-passing Ballincollig via the by-pass, shortages of buses in the mornings leaving people late for work, and long waits both in and out of town. These issues remain.
“In response to our concerns, the NTA said in January that improvements would be made in 2024, however they have now announced via the Minister for Transport a review of the 220 service.
“This can’t be used as an excuse to kick the can down the road. The improvements that were promised must be delivered without delay,” he added.
Mr Lynch also called for improvements to the 233 bus service which is serving a number of routes. “As part of their review, the NTA and Bus Éireann could, however, usefully take seriously the lack of buses serving Greenfields Road and Castle Road in Ballincollig.
“These are areas that have seen big population growth in recent years, with more housing developments in Maglin being constructed, yet these areas get one or two 233 buses a day. It is unacceptable and we have to see improved levels of service there.”
“We believe there is a need for Bus Éireann to hire 30 additional drivers in Cork,” said Mr Lynch. “Sinn Féin recently published a comprehensive plan to improve bus services throughout Cork city, to reintroduce spare drivers in Capwell to allow for delays and traffic congestion, and to commit that no bus route in Cork city will be privatised. The NTA are free to take this plan and implement it. That would result in immediate improvements instead of waiting for this new review to be completed.”