Sinn Féin has also raised issues directly with the National Transport Authority
12:44, 18 Dec 2025Updated 13:16, 18 Dec 2025
Bus Éireann buses in Cork city centre (stock)(Image: Thomas Lawrance/CorkBeo)
Public representatives have held meetings with Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority as Christmas shoppers and workers across Cork city continue to face public transport delays. Sinn Féin’s Thomas Gould TD and Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD said that the organisations have thrown Cork’s Christmas public transport ‘under the bus’ in a statement issued this morning.
The Sinn Féin TDs stated that Bus Éireann and the NTA have been aware of the impending ‘Christmas crisis’ since September, and they accused both organisations of failing to take action to resolve the issue before the festive season. Deputy Gould stated that temporary solutions were not duly considered for the Christmas period.
Concerns were also raised with the National Transport Authority about the reliability of their TFI app, with Deputy Gould highlighting how the app regularly fails to deliver real-time information on busy routes.
Deputy Gould said: “We have just finished two extremely frustrating meetings with Bus Éireann and the NTA. What is clear is that they knew there was a crisis in September but failed to take any action to solve these issues before the Christmas period. There were no temporary solutions considered, and every single proposal we made was shot down.
“We have been told they’ve been meeting weekly since September because they knew there were serious issues. Why weren’t the public told? Why weren’t elected representatives told? Nobody was warned about the crisis coming down the line and instead we are facing another Christmas with people left in the cold and the rain at bus stops. We’re stuck in Groundhog Day in Cork when it comes to the Christmas bus crisis.
“Bus Éireann is once again facing a Christmas period with insufficient driver and mechanic numbers to run a bus service. They have confirmed to me that they are currently short 20 drivers and 4 mechanics. This is the busiest time of year for public transport and yet neither organisation could outline any temporary solutions proposed to resolve these issues over the Christmas period.”
A total of 546 drivers are employed by Bus Éireann in Cork, which is four more than the recommended figure of 542. However, 24 of these drivers are currently in training and are scheduled to enter service across the next few months. The Capwell Depot is currently short 4 of the required 36 mechanics, but Bus Éireann said that those vacancies will be filled as mechanics complete their training in the coming months.
Sinn Féin also raised concerns about the number of buses available in Cork, noting that the county is relying on second-hand buses from Limerick or Galway. They also criticised Bus Éireann for asking bus drivers to work on rest days to fill the gaps in the stretched system.
Deputy Ó Laoghaire added: “Bus users in Cork are increasingly frustrated, and the NTA and Bus Éireann need to deliver. We have had a lot of promises, but the system is still not anywhere near good enough, despite the best efforts of drivers. In some instances, there is a full roster but not enough vehicles for the drivers. Other times there aren’t enough drivers.
“Too many routes on the southside, including the 203, 214 and 207, are seeing buses late, or not showing up. People want to use the bus, but they have to be able to rely on it. That isn’t the case at the minute – and too many people who have no choice are late to work, school and medical appointments. We need a major investment to ensure the confidence of the people of Cork – we need a public transport system for the 21st century for the people of Cork, but unfortunately, we are not there yet.”
In response to the issues raised by Sinn Féin, Bus Éireann also noted that as of December 7, routes 203, 125 and 220x have undergone reviews with some improvements already noted along these routes. Bus Éireann expects further improvements on these routes after the Christmas holiday rush, with a review of the 208 service scheduled to take place in January.
Deputy Gould concluded: “I don’t accept that every Christmas must be a crisis. In no other city in Europe would it be accepted that the bus service collapses every single Christmas, why is it ok in Cork?
“We need the Minister for Transport to step up now and actually take a handle on these issues. There are temporary solutions that could resolve some of these issues – turning buses in the city centre, hiring seasonal drivers on short-term contracts and utilising private bus companies. These are not all long-term solutions but they will mean that people who want to use public transport this Christmas can.”