The National Transport Authority (NTA) has commenced issuing letters to homeowners whose property may be potentially impacted by the scheme.

Cork Cork North Centra Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould said the project is dead in the water unless enough bus drivers can be recruited.

BusConnects Cork, a spokesperson said, “aims to transform the city’s bus system by making it a better, more reliable, and more efficient service”.

Cork Nature Network has urged the NTA to rethink elements of the Mahon to City Sustainable Transport Corridor they said would  negatively impact the disused Beaumont Quarry.

The controversial plans would have seen a two-metre wide archway cut into the 200-year-old wall of the old army barracks, beside Healy’s bar, for a new footpath, giving the NTA greater space on the road for wider bus and bicycle lanes.

'We fear for our livelihoods and jobs for our employees should the corridor be adopted in its present form', says Douglas village bar and restaurant owner

The third round of consultation concluded just before Christmas with close to 800 online observations made on the latest plans including 101 submissions on the Mayfield to city STC from a range of parties.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) recently confirmed to The Echo that the decision has been made to hold a third round of non-statutory public consultation for the 11 Sustainable Transport Corridors in Cork.

The NTA is working with 40 resident groups across the city

Figures, provided by the National Transport Authority (NTA), show that last year 13.9m enger journeys were recorded on the various bus routes in the city and county, compared to 8.7m in 2021 and 8.3m in 2020

“Since the last round of consultation there are new proposals for a quietway on Middle Glanmire Road, and other issues have come to the fore,” Cllr Moran said in a statement.

BusConnects Cork is the NTA’s plan to improve bus services throughout the city and suburbs.

A bus gate is a sign-posted short length of standalone bus lane. This length of road is restricted exclusively to buses, taxis and cyclists plus emergency vehicles during the hours of operation of the bus gate.

Eamon Ryan made the comments while speaking to reporters in Cork on Friday.

“The NTA plans will have serious consequences for businesses, workers, constituents, communities and people’s lives. That is why the publication of the traffic data in advance of the closing date is essential,” said Sinn Féin Cork North Central TD, Deputy Thomas Gould, during a Dáil debate.

BusConnects Cork is a €600m programme of work that aims to transform the city’s bus system, making public transport more accessible to more people.

Residents attended a public information evening held at St Vincent’s GAA Clubhouse on Blarney Rd yesterday where they had access to designers, engineers, and representatives from the National Transport Authority (NTA).

The latest round of public consultation centres on the preferred route options which have been identified.

The latest round of public consultation will centre on the preferred route options which have been identified.

Proposals for 12 STCs were published last June, with the initial phase of public consultation closing in October.

Aled Williams, who is the senior operations manager (South) for Bus Éireann, itted the ‘chronic’ traffic levels in Cork city have resulted in operational issues for the company

Elements of the current proposals, including the potential acquisition of land, the removal of on-street parking, and the removal of trees have proved highly controversial.