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Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Cork City buses to introduce 90-minute free transfer Leap fare from next month
A new 90-minute Leap card flat fare is being introduced on Cork's city bus network next month that will allow passengers free transfer between buses for multi-leg journeys. A new distance-based fare structure is also being introduced in a new commuter zone outside the city zone that will extend to some 30km from the city centre. However, plans to introduce a new 'tap-on tap-off' payment system on the bus fleet around the same time have been delayed due to technical and software issues, the Irish Examiner has learned. It follows the adoption of a new fares policy and two new fares zones for Cork by the board of the National Transport Authority (NTA). The fares will be introduced in three phases from next month, with the flat 90-minute Leap card fare introduced first, applying initially to Cork City bus services only. The second stage, scheduled for later this year, will see a flat 90-minute Leap card bus and rail fare, applying to city bus services and to rail services between Kent, Little Island and Glounthane stations. The fare will be set higher than the bus-only 90-minute fare in stage one, which will then be discontinued. And next year, stage three will see the introduction of distance-based commuter bus fares in the new Cork Commuter Zone, which is outside the city zone and extends 30km from the city centre to include the rest of the commuter train stations, including Midleton and Mallow, as well as commuter bus services operating in the area that extends to just south Fermoy, and takes in Bandon and Kinsale. However, plans to install a pole-mounted Leap card validator system on buses to allow passengers board and pay without having to go to the driver have been delayed over technical and software issues. The new fares structure, similar to the TFI 90-minute fare that operates in Dublin across the capital's bus and Luas network, is seen as a vital part of the BusConnects project. The fare changes will apply to the existing bus network before the Cork BusConnects network is introduced, from next April. Green Party Cllr Oliver Moran said they will have a real impact. 'They're the first stage of the overall BusConnects programme that people will actually experience. They'll make a real difference to passengers and services here and now, where people will really feel it,' he said. 'In the next five to 10 years, we need to draw more people onto public transport in preparation for high-frequency commuter rail, BusConnects and eventually the Luas. Public transport has to be the go-to choice for commuting in the city in that time period.' Despite the delay in the introduction of the tap-on, tap-off payment system, Mr Moran said once it's introduced, it will mean faster boarding. 'That's going to help with queuing times at busy stops like St Patrick's Street, Kent Station and Clontarf Street. It means in overall journey times, a bus driver can travel faster too along a route.' Read More Is more congestion in Cork City an inevitability?
Irish Independent
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Calls to rename Cork city park named after bishop
A motion put forward by Cllrs Niamh O'Connor, Oliver Moran and Ted Tynan at Monday's meeting of Cork City Council proposed that as part of the redevelopment of Bishop Lucey Park, 'the Chief Executive shall undertake a process to explore the renaming of the park.' Seventeen of the City Council's 31 elected members voted in favour. Located on the Grand Parade and opened in 1985, the park is named after Bishop Con Lucey, who was the Catholic Bishop of Cork from 1952 until 1980. The park has been closed to the public since December 2023 for redevelopment. "In my opinion this is not a matter of renaming a park, it's a new park deserving of a new name. When the new park opens it will bear absolutely no resemblance to the park that was there previously. A new park presents a unique opportunity to choose a name that reflects what we value as a city," Cllr O'Connor said. The Social Democrats Councillor said the motion wasn't about committing to a name change for the park, but rather to undertaking a process to explore renaming it. 'Ultimately the people of Cork will decide the name of the park and that is exactly how it should be,' she said. Due to reopen in November, the redeveloped park will include improved access to the historic city wall, a new events pavilion and plaza, improved access and seating for all, and a new tower to mark the eastern entrance.
Irish Independent
19-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Ambitious rail plans unveiled by Iarnród Éireann for Cork – Plans include eight new train stations
The ambitious plans were unveiled by Iarnród Éireann on Wednesday, June 18. A public consultation has now commenced on Phase 2 of the largest ever investment in Cork rail network as Iarnród Éireann invites people to have their say on the future of rail transport in Cork. Key elements in Phase 2 of the Cork Area Commuter Rail (CACR) Programme include eight new stations for Cork in Blarney/Stoneview, Monard, Blackpool/Kilbarry, Tivoli, Dunkettle, Ballynoe, Carrigtwohill West and Water-Rock, and the electrification of the Cork rail network to support a new electric train fleet, reduce congestion and cut transport carbon emissions. Other parts of the plans include a new depot at Ballyrichard More which will support the maintenance of the new electric fleet and two strategic park and rides at Blarney/Stoneview and Dunkettle which will streamline connections from surrounding areas. More plans in Phase 2 of the CACR Programme includes station upgrades to Mallow, Midleton and Cobh to ensure improved accessibility and provide for expected future capacity increases and better connections supporting more integrated transport options, bus services, cycleways and Cork's future light rail (LUAS). Iarnród Éireann said the plans will help support more frequent, reliable and sustainable rail transport for Cork. 'It's about creating a cleaner, greener, better-connected Cork for the future - supporting communities, cutting emissions, and boosting accessibility across the region. The CACR will deliver a high-frequency, electrified rail system—targeting service every ten minutes - connecting Cork's communities with a fast, sustainable, integrated transport network.' Communities across Cork are invited to give their feedback on the proposed plans. All are encouraged to review the full details for Phase 2, including details on how to contact the team and give feedback, at As well as online feedback, a series of consultation events will be held for those who would like to learn more about the project. They will take place at Kent Station's Travel Centre on Platform 4 on June 24; AY Blarney GAA Clun on June 25; at Blackpool Shopping Centre on June 26; My Place in Midleton on July 2; Cobh Community Centre on July 3, and at Mallow Family Resource Centre on July 9. All of the consultation events will run from 4-8pm There will also be a webinar from 7pm to 8.30pm on July 10. To receive the link to join online email cacr@ Upon completion of this consultation, all submissions will be carefully considered by the programme design team, and these will be used to inform the subsequent design development and the formation of the preferred option. A second phase of public consultation will take place when a preferred option for the project has been identified. Green Party councillor Oliver Moran has welcomed the announcement of a public consultation on the opening of eight new stations for the Cork Commuter Rail Network. "This is where the rubber meets the tarmac for investment in commuter rail in Cork. We're now looking at park and ride on the northside and new stations in Blarney, Blackpool and Dunkettle. That's a quantum leap for public transport for the city.' Cllr Moran added that this is the beginning of a truly integrated mass transit system for the city and the metropolitan area. 'The picture is forming too about is why it's so important that the Cork Luas meets with Kent Station. This is the high-frequency commuter rail in the metropolitan area connecting with high-frequency light rail across the city is the backbone of that."
Irish Independent
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Evictions in Cork increase by 47pc this year – Cork councillor calls for Dáil to reconvene
Corkman Today at 06:33 Eviction notices have increased by 47% in Cork in the first quarter of 2025. 39 new households have been placed in emergency accommodation because of evictions and 33 more for which evictions are imminent 'What we have is a government more concerned with maintaining Dáil speaking time for Michael Lowry than maintaining roofs over people's heads,' said Cllr Oliver Moran who has called for the Dáil to reconvene to discuss the growing number of evictions in Cork. The Green Party councillor said the Dáil must reconvene so that Minister for Housing, James Browne, can make an urgent statement in relation to the continued government commitment to the purchase of houses for people facing eviction, people with disabilities and to tackle vacancy. The call has come after officials in Cork City Council and other local authorities made clear that national budget allocations for 2025 meant the funding received will be insufficient to adequately cover current commitments from 2024 into 2025. At the meeting of Cork City Council on April 14, Director of Housing, Alison O'Rourke, confirmed: "After reviewing the current programme and financial commitments carried over from 2024, we have determined that the allocated funding has been exhausted. The refurbishment programme for tenant-in-situ properties to bring them up to lettable standards will be required to be reduced or terminated.' Ms O'Rourke continued: 'The Council's private rightsizing initiative will not progress any further in 2025. Any new acquisition of second-hand properties for special needs, such as Housing First, homeless prevention, or accommodation for persons with a disability, will not therefore proceed within the acquisitions programme in 2025." Green Party councillor for Cork City North East and spokesperson on housing, Cllr Oliver Moran said: 'The tenant-in-situ scheme was a demand of the Green Party before we would agree to the lifting of the eviction band. That the money has already run out for 2025 tells you everything you need to know about this new government and their approach to housing.' "Last year, the scheme accounted for more than a third of people taken out of homelessness in Cork,' said Cllr Moran. 'Eighty-seven adults and 100 children that would otherwise have nowhere to go were able to stay in their homes because of the scheme. Eviction notices have already increased by 47% in the first quarter of 2025. Already, we have 39 new households placed in emergency accommodation because of evictions and 33 more for which evictions are imminent.' Cllr Moran said the government is more concerned with maintaining Dáil speaking time for Michael Lowry than maintaining roofs over people's heads. 'I don't think there has ever been a change in commitment by a government so quickly and so disastrously ever before."
