The National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) has called for urgent action to address issues such as the lack of bus lanes and inadequate enforcement, as well as Cork’s traffic congestion.

Speaking to Newstalk, NBRU’s Dermot O’Leary suggested that introducing a contra-flow system in areas with peak traffic could improve the situation.

“Cork is a growing city, particularly along the docks, and something has to change,” he said. “A contra-flow system for buses could be one solution.”

According to the Irish Examiner, Bus Éireann acknowledged the driver shortage and operational challenges in Cork, including congestion, illegal use of bus stops, and a lack of enforcement of bus priority routes.

While waiting for the completion of the 11 strategic transport corridors planned under BusConnects Cork, the company pointed to several temporary measures that could improve bus punctuality, such as expanding the Patrick’s Street bus priority scheme.

The time-regulated bus lane on Patrick’s Street, introduced in 2018, prioritizes buses from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily, restricting access to public transport, taxis, cyclists, and emergency vehicles. However, widespread violations of this restriction have drawn criticism for the lack of enforcement.