The programme for Government has several commitments about improving public transport. In fitting with this, there are plans to improve the No. 220 bus service in Ballincollig, County Cork, and increase it to five times per hour. This was expected earlier this year. While the National Transport Authority, NTA, and various authorities are in agreement about it, people are still waiting for the service to improve and still waiting for up to an hour for a bus.

I know the Taoiseach will not have an instant answer on this. However, can he determine what is the roadblock and why this fix has not been brought forward? How soon will the improvement to the service be brought into effect?

Ordinarily, I would tell the Deputy that I do not have any information about the No. 220 bus service from Carrigaline to Cork. However, as it happens, my sister’s childminder, who is attending UCC, uses it regularly. I am advised that it is slow and, as a consequence of traffic, often gets stuck. It will be significantly improved and made more frequent in the next several weeks. I will pass on the reply to the Deputy because it was a favourable one.