With Irish people long inured to the widespread waste of public money and

resources, it may not come as a big surprise that the imposition of the so called
Green Routes or bus lanes in Cork City has cost a staggering 67.9 million of
public funds. Furthermore, Bus Eireann has spent millions more on the purchase
of an expanded bus fleet. The doubtful benefit for the taxpayer in the Cork area
for this expenditure is a miserly increase in passenger numbers of 6%.
Details received under Freedom of Information legislation from Cork City Council
show that solemn commitments were given by named Council officials in 2002 to
the Department of Transport that the bus lanes would comply with best national
and international standards of safety and design criteria.
The commitments given in the Consultants brief issued by Cork City Council and
repeatedly in a series of letters from Council officials to the Department of
Transport are clearly set out as follows: The planning and implementation of
these Green Routes will incorporate improved footpath spaces and separation
and protection of pedestrians from traffic streams, as well as the provision of
dedicated space for cycle lanes.
These unqualified commitments however, were totally ignored on
implementation and at least in some instances such as Wilton Road, have
contributed to a dangerous and dysfunctional road system that exposes
residents, motorists, pedestrians and cyclists to constant danger.
Expressions of serious concern by senior officers of An Garda Siochna,
specifically relating to the imposition of the bus lane and associated road
markings, have been ignored by Cork City Council.
The multiple dangers associated with the bus lane on Wilton Road have been
documented in detail by local residents and presented, to no effect, on several
occasions in the last decade to Cork City Council, the National Transport
Authority and the Minister for Transport.
The combined failure of the authorities to address the resultant deficiencies has
contributed to numerous car crashes, many serious. Because of the lack of the
promised dedicated space for cycle lanes, cyclists are forced onto the footpaths
resulting in constant danger for pedestrians. This failure to act responsibly is
compounded by constant denial and of course by the wasteful and unexplained
expenditure of 67.9 million of tax payers money.
Bus Eireann and the NTA unfortunately are not covered under FOI and have
refused to supply any financial, scheduling or operational details because of
commercial sensitivities.
The Minister has been asked to explain why his department at the time failed to
properly ensure accountability and to oversee the expenditure of the allocated
public funding, and also, why his officials failed to ensure that promised design
and safety standards were not implemented by Cork City Council following
securement of funds in 2002.