Bus Éireann 'throwing in the towel' by cutting Cork City buses services
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A chronic shortage of bus drivers has led to cuts to services on five Cork City routes from next month.
Bus Éireann insists the cuts will be temporary, that the revised timetables will improve punctuality on those routes and improve reliability across the city’s wider bus network.
But some public representatives have criticised the move, which they say will hit commuters and now also casts doubt on the ability of the company and the National Transport Authority (NTA) to deliver the expanded and improved bus network as envisaged under BusConnects.
The service cuts announcement comes just days after a protest in the city about the city’s unreliable bus service.
In a statement on Tuesday, Bus Éireann confirmed revised timetables for routes 202, 202a, 205, 208 and the 24-hour 220 will come into effect from October 20.
The details will be published on Monday but it is understood it will include a reduction in bus frequency at peak hours from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes.
The company has been struggling with a chronic shortage of bus drivers in Cork for over a year — 25 short of what it needs.
It has embarked on a major recruitment campaign, which has included open days and a €2,000 sign-on bonus for D-licence drivers.
The starting gross base pay for drivers is €775.84 a week rising to €898.22 at the top of the scale, with new pay talks due to begin in the coming weeks.
But a company spokesperson said until bus priority measures in the city are improved, the bus timetable will be impacted.
“With just 2% of our service kilometres delivered through bus lanes in Cork City, significantly more measures are needed and the company looks forward to the full implementation of BusConnects Cork which starts in 2025, funded by the NTA,” it said.
Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould said while the service cuts were not ideal, they should hopefully lead to a more reliable service.
But Sinn Féin councillor for Ballincollig Joe Lynch accused the company of "throwing in the towel".
"While Bus Éireann say they are introducing these changes to improve punctuality and reliability, it is objectively the case that less buses on the road means a poorer quality service for the travelling public,” he said.
Solidarity TD Mick Barry said the company had given a start date for the cuts but no start date for the restoration of services.
“Only last Saturday, more than 100 frustrated passengers marched in the city to demand better bus services. Bus Éireann should not then be reducing the timetable days afterwards,” he said.
The Green Party described the move as “pragmatic” but not a long-term solution.
“The city has a plan for increased services from next year. Reducing services now is only buying time. Bus Éireann need to attract and retain drivers and look at everything in the pay and conditions to make that happen,” Cllr Oliver Moran said.
He also called for the immediate introduction of BusConnects bus priority measures, where there is agreement with local residents, and for an extension of the ‘Pana ban’ — the bus priority measures on St Patrick's Street.
Bus Éireann carries more than 295,000 passenger journeys a week in Cork city across 25 routes. Its Capwell depot is the largest in the network, with more than 500 staff.