John Paul O'Shea demands start date for Link Bus 515
John Paul O'Shea asks for a concrete start date for the newly approved Link Bus 515 connecting Mallow to Killarney, which serves villages in Cork North West. The route was announced in November 2025 and local communities expect delivery in 2026 to end rural isolation and improve access to services.
Local impact: O'Shea highlighted how limited public transport has affected access to education, employment, healthcare and social life in Cork North West. He argued that reliable rural transport is essential for balanced regional development and to tackle rural isolation.
Funding and demand: The Tánaiste noted a 46% increase in investment in rural transport in Cork between 2024 and 2025, now exceeding 7.2 million, and reported a 95% rise in passenger numbers on rural routes. Those figures underline local demand for the 515 service.
Next steps and accountability: O'Shea asked for clarity on implementation timing. The National Transport Authority has plans for route advancement but has not provided an implementation date; Minister Buttermore has been asked to respond directly following this exchange.
Local impact: O'Shea highlighted how limited public transport has affected access to education, employment, healthcare and social life in Cork North West. He argued that reliable rural transport is essential for balanced regional development and to tackle rural isolation.
Funding and demand: The Tánaiste noted a 46% increase in investment in rural transport in Cork between 2024 and 2025, now exceeding 7.2 million, and reported a 95% rise in passenger numbers on rural routes. Those figures underline local demand for the 515 service.
Next steps and accountability: O'Shea asked for clarity on implementation timing. The National Transport Authority has plans for route advancement but has not provided an implementation date; Minister Buttermore has been asked to respond directly following this exchange.
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Transcript
I'd like to announce a date for the newly approved local Link Bus service, the 515 connecting Mallow to Killarney, which serves the villages of Ballyclaw, Castle Magner, Cantorch, Bohar Buí and Nochnagri in my own constituency of Cork North West. This route is not just a line on a map, it's a vital lifeline for rural communities. People in these areas have faced limited public transport options, impacting access to education, employment, healthcare and social activities. The approval of this service has been very warmly welcomed locally when it was announced in November 2025, and there is strong expectation now that that will be delivered without delay in 2026. Reliable and accessible rural transport is essential if we are serious about balanced region development and tackling rural isolation. This service has the potential to significantly improve connectivity across Cork North West and into Kerry. The communities I represent at Tánaiste are ready for this service. They now need certainty of when it will begin. Thanks very much to Deputy O'Shea for raising this issue, and I'm pleased he's raising it with me and indeed with Minister Buttermore here, who has responsibility for rural transport as well. I am pleased to see that the investment in rural transport in Cork has increased by 46% between the years 2024 and 2025, so it's now more than €7.2 million. We're seeing passenger numbers on the rural routes, which I think is to your point in Cork, increasing by 95%, so there's clear demand for this as well. I want to thank you particularly for raising the proposed new bus route 515 under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Programme. I know this is something that Minister Buttermore is very supportive of as well. I know it would serve a number of villages that you've outlined in Cork North West. The NTA tell me they are planning advancement of these routes, but they have not yet given me a date for implementation. But on foot of you raising it here, Minister Buttermore will come back to you directly.