O’Shea Expresses Bitter Disappointment that new Bus Route 515 Mallow–Killarney has Still not Commenced

Cork North West Fine Gael TD Deputy John Paul O’Shea has expressed his bitter disappointment that the long-awaited new Route 515 bus service connecting Mallow and Killarney has still not commenced, almost a year after its approval was announced.

The proposed Route 515, which was approved by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in November 2025, is intended to provide an important new public transport link between Mallow and Killarney, serving communities including Ballyclough, Castlemagner, Kanturk, Boherbue, Knocknagree, Rathmore, Gneeveguilla and Kilcummin.

The service is planned to provide up to six return services each day, seven days a week. However, despite the original confirmation that the route was at an advanced stage of planning, the service has yet to commence.

Deputy O’Shea said “I have to say that I am bitterly disappointed that Route 515 has still not commenced. When this service was announced last November, communities across Cork North-West and into Kerry were rightly very positive about the potential it would bring.

“Almost a year on, people are still waiting. The communities along this route need action, not just announcements. This is particularly frustrating given the importance of connecting rural communities with Mallow and Killarney for work, education, healthcare, shopping and other essential services.

“I have been raising this issue with the NTA and will continue to press for a clear timeline for the commencement of Route 515. If funding and resources remain the barrier, then this needs to be addressed as a matter of priority.”

Deputy O’Shea said that the upcoming Budget 2027 must provide sufficient funding to allow the NTA to deliver the Route 515 service and ensure that other planned rural public transport improvements are also progressed.

“The NTA must ensure that sufficient funding is allocated in Budget 2027 to deliver Route 515. We cannot have rural communities being told that services have been approved, only for them to remain on the drawing board because the necessary resources have not been made available.

“But I also want to see more than just Route 515 progressed. There are a number of communities across Cork North West that are crying out for better public transport connections. We need to see more rural routes brought forward, more frequent services on existing routes and greater connectivity between our towns, villages and larger urban centres.

“We have seen the significant demand that exists for Local Link services, with passenger numbers growing substantially in recent years. That demonstrates clearly that people in rural Ireland will use public transport when reliable and convenient services are available.

“Budget 2027 needs to recognise this demand and provide the NTA with the resources necessary to expand rural public transport. Rural communities deserve the same commitment to public transport connectivity as our larger urban areas.”

Deputy O’Shea concluded “Route 515 would be a hugely positive development for communities right across North Cork and Kerry. I want to see it move from a proposal to an operating service without any further unnecessary delay.

“I will continue to engage with the NTA and the Minister to ensure that the necessary funding and resources are put in place and that we see real progress on Route 515 and other rural transport services across our region.”