Carrigaline gets 24-hour Ballincollig bus service

THE Ballincollig to Carrigaline bus service is to be run on a 24-hour basis from Sunday January 13th with the enhancements to the service announced by Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority earlier this week.

The service frequency doubles on Route 220, with minor changes to some other routes. 

Significantly, the 220 will operate on a 24-hours basis. 

Other changes to the route include increased frequency to every 15 minutes from 9am until midnight and all services will now stop at Grange Manor in Ballincollig and the Carrigaline Primary Care Centre. Every second service will serve Crosshaven.

Colette Finn, the Green Party representative in the Cork City South West ward, which will include Ballincollig from next year’s local elections, has welcomed the significant service enhancements to the bus service.

‘It is great to see areas such as Ballincollig and Carrigaline becoming more connected to the city centre of Cork and vice versa. It gives young adults the service they require at night to enjoy activities within the new city boundary. Speaking as a parent, I know that it will allow my daughter to meet her friends in Ballincollig without depending on me for a lift – here’s hoping!’ said Ms Finn.

Ms Finn described the move to a 24-hour service as progressive. She said it was part of the kind of change necessary to meet Ireland’s international commitments on climate change and move to a less car-based economy:

‘It’s is a very progressive move with regards to making it more viable to rely on public transport, less on private cars. This is the kind of systems approach that is needed from government to tackle our commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement.’

‘It’s also good to note that this change is primarily due to widespread public criticism of the route and how unreliable it was,’ Ms Finn added.

‘It’s good that a public body has responded to public outcry in such a positive manner.’