Jerry Buttimer
Cork South-Central · Fine Gael · Ireland
“Its priority is to provide scheduled public transport services on the TFI network. It works with event organisers, operators, local authorities and An Garda Síochána to provide additional transport supports where it is possible to do so.”
“I commit to relaying the points the Senator has made on the floor of the House, and has conveyed to me in private, to the Department of Transport. To be fair to the Senator, it was not only this morning that he has articulated this. The travelling supporters of Kerry and Mayo deserve additional transport.”
“I understand from the company that the Expressway team is currently examining whether additional services on route 22 will be added on the morning of Sunday, 26 July.”
“In this case, for Kerry and Mayo, as the Senator rightly said, it will see a high demand for scheduled and additional services. The Senator has outlined the volume of tickets sales. This is the busiest time for scheduled intercity services anyway, given that it is peak summer time, and that is a priority.”
“I understand from speaking to Irish Rail that it hopes to be in a position to confirm the number of additional services later this week - I am hoping this will be today or tomorrow - and it will advise customers as soon as these services are available to book.”
“The Senator mentioned Sneem and Ventry. He and I will remember our great friends, the late, great John Egan and Paudie O'Shea, as well as the Senator's brother Tim. I get emotional because they were great GAA people. Cork and Kerry have the best supporters of the GAA.”
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“I commend all those who volunteer every day and every week in our society because whether we lend a hand at a community event, at a match, as part of a parents' association in school or even in our places of worship, our churches, we are volunteering. Each act of volunteerism makes life better and enriches and empowers our society. I had the pleasure of being in Kildare with Senator O'Loughlin recently where we launched the Kildare volunteer strategy. That is a very good example of a really good event and a wonderful group of people enhancing the lives of the people in County Kildare. Statistics indicate that 1.1 million people are volunteers. To be honest, I believe it is higher than that. We see people i ngach áit ar fud na tíre ag tabhairt ama, giving time, effort, expertise and compassion.”
“Is cúis áthais dom a bheith i láthair sa Seanad inniu. I am delighted to be here to speak on our national volunteering strategy and the importance of volunteering across Irish society. As members know, it is part of who we are. It denotes us and sets us apart. It is woven into the tapestry of our communities, our culture and our sense of identity going back to Kickham and the whole piece around the GAA. From the GAA to the parish hall, from community gardens to climate action to people living in Ireland, we have always understood that a strong society is built not just by government or policy but by the people who look out for one another. Deonachas, volunteerism, is everywhere in our community and our society. Some people will question whether it is there or not but it is of course as we all give of our time.”
“That does take time but it highlights the importance of the faster and more expeditious delivery of infrastructure on behalf of the people the Senator has spoken about his morning. I will take his concerns and views back to the Department.”
“I do not disagree with the Senator's reply. As he has said this morning, this project will alleviate traffic congestion, improve connectivity and bring an economic lift to the region. The Government is committed. It has allocated €9 million to Cavan County Council, including €7.4 million for capital protection, renewal and active travel and €1.5 million for new roads along with almost €500,000 for current maintenance. The M3 motorway and N3 national primary road is a strategic radial corridor for the north east. I will certainly bring the Senator's views back to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and to the officials in the Department. As I said in my response at the beginning, the preliminary business case is being submitted by TII.”
“I hope this will help to clarify the status of funding for roads in County Cavan. I take the Senator's point and hear him very clearly as regards the capital announcement last year and the need for infrastructure development to be progressed. That is why, in government, the party of which we are members asked for a stand-alone Department of infrastructure. We need to see projects like this fast-tracked on behalf of the residents. I thank the Senator for raising this matter this morning.”
“During this phase, the design of the project is being further refined with topographical work and geotechnical investigations ongoing, along with the determination of land take requirements. A preliminary business case for the project is expected to be completed this year, as is required by the infrastructure guidelines. Subject to approval, the project will then proceed through the necessary statutory processes, including a planning application. A major priority of the NDP, in line with the Government's investment hierarchy, is to maintain the quality and safety of the existing national road framework. This includes funding for minor improvement projects and safety schemes such as junction upgrades, road realignment and pavement renewal. I look forward to next week's allocation of national roads funding being published.”
“Some €502 million of Exchequer capital funding was allocated to TII last year to be used for the construction of major new road projects and the protection and renewal of existing roads. Cavan County Council received €9 million. Next week, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I will announce the roads projects for this year. I confirm that €1.2 million was allocated for the N3 bypass scheme in 2025. In relation to the current status of the scheme, following the selection of a preferred route, the N3 Virginia bypass is currently advancing through the design and environmental evaluation phase of TII's project management guidelines.”
“Furthermore, in the sectoral investment plan for transport, which was published last year, the Virginia bypass was listed among projects identified to be in procurement or under construction by 2030. The proposed project will ease congestion in the town of Virginia. As the Senator has hoped, it will provide an opportunity to improve public realm facilities, the lives of people in the area and road safety, particularly for vulnerable road users, through the provision of dedicated cycling and walking infrastructure. As we have both said, the reduction of congestion will have a positive impact on the wider region. Journey times will also be improved and there will be a prosperous economic upturn for the region.”
“Planning and the upgrading of individual national roads under the national development plan is a matter for TII. Under Project Ireland 2040 and the NDP, TII will ultimately a deliver a national roads programme. It is important to point out that we have had a number of major projects successfully concluded. Our colleague and friend, Senator Lynch, can testify to the N22 Baile Bhuirne to Macroom road. I thank her for her work on that. Along with the N2 Clontibret to the Border and N2 Ardee to Castleblayney projects, the N3 Virginia bypass is one of a number of new national road projects in the north east identified for development over the lifetime of the national development plan.”
“I thank Senator O'Reilly for raising this very important matter. I thank him for articulating the frustration expressed by motorists and people in the town of Virginia. I also thank the Senator and Councillor T.P. O'Reilly for their advocacy and continued lobbying in respect of the importance of the Virginia bypass to the people of Cavan. I am not sure I have good news on the timeline for him this morning. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport. As the Senator will know, the Minister has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to the national roads programme. Once that funding has been put in place, it is transferred to TII under the Roads Acts and, in this case, to Cavan County Council.”
“We need the Atlantic economic corridor to be developed so that we can improve the offerings of jobs in west Cork, north Cork and dare I say it, Kerry as well. This is about ensuring the N20-M20 is built. People have waited long enough. The potential to reduce road fatalities and accidents is there for all to see from a safety point of view. I look forward to working with all Members, but in particular Deputy O'Shea, to deliver the project on behalf of the Government.”
“It is important to outline to the House that approximately €502 million of Exchequer capital funding was provided last year to TII in line with the NDP and Government policy, and TII sought to allocate national roads funding to local authorities in a manner that seeks to deliver in protecting existing rural projects and major projects that are to be progressed or are in or near construction, such as that we were talking about in terms of pre-construction, but also in the context of new roads. The N20-M20 is one we need to see delivered. We have seen the benefit in our own county in the Baile Bhuirne-Macroom bypass, in the importance of the Dunkettle interchange upgrade, and we need to see more happening in terms of the N40 where we have gridlock every day.”
“The Deputy is right that it is time to move from aspiration to delivery. That is why the Tánaiste was very clear about the need for the development of expeditious projects to be progressed, with the whole issue around infrastructure development and the need for a specific department of infrastructure. The Deputy and I really listened to the Cork Development Forum and the chamber of commerce and other business interests and a variety of interests relating to the N20-M20 project. It is included in the NDP and received, as he knows, significant funding in 2024. This year’s funding allocation is due shortly and it will receive money. The proposed project is critically important in terms of connectivity, not just from a Cork-Limerick perspective but also from the perspective of other regional towns as we have articulated and outlined.”
“It is that piece that is missing in the connectivity of our country and as two Cork Members and representatives, we understand fully what could happen when this new road is built in terms of the new life it will breathe. The people of that area deserve for this road to be delivered expeditiously. I thank the Deputy for his ongoing work and support and for being a long-time champion of the road.”
“The scheme's preliminary business case is expected to be submitted to the Department of Transport in the second half of this year. Subject to Government approval as is required under the infrastructure guidelines, the submission of the statutory documents for the project to An Coimisiún Pleanála would follow thereafter. TII allocated €4.5 million to Limerick City and County Council to progress the scheme during 2025. Allocations for 2026 will be announced in the near future. I assure the Deputy that I am, as he is, very supportive of this particular project and recognise its importance as we have said, for a variety of reasons, but most importantly from a safety, economic and sustainability point of view. This road needs to be connected.”
“This will include selecting the type of road in addition to the preparation of the scheme's business case, which is required under the infrastructure guidelines. In June 2024, a briefing took place for public representatives as part of the project team's ongoing engagement process. In considering various options in relation to the delivery of this project, the project team is currently recommending that the scheme should be tolled. However, no final decision has been taken in this regard. The introduction of tolling would be subject to compliance with the requirements of the infrastructure guidelines and further statutory approvals. A further project update on 16 June 2025 provided further details, particularly regarding the refined requirements relating to land take.”
“The N20-M20 road corridor options were progressed by TII with public transport alternatives and rail as comparators. Following this appraisal, TII announced the preferred solution on 20 March 2022. The preferred solution involves building a dual carriageway or motorway along the existing N20 corridor between Cork and Limerick and would use 30% to 40% of the current N20. In the course of arriving at the preferred solution, the project team looked at rail options and highlighted the provision of improved services on the existing rail network as a means of enhancing public transport between Cork and Limerick. The design team is currently engaged in the design and environmental evaluation phase of the project.”
“The proposed project aims to enhance regional accessibility by improving the network connecting the cities of Cork and Limerick but also by improving connections to west Cork and Kerry along with that piece the Deputy spoke about, namely, balanced regional growth, especially in north Cork. The N20-M20 Cork to Limerick project will provide not just better connectivity between the second and third largest cities in the State. The Deputy outlined that towns such as Buttevant, Croom, Charleville, Mallow, Blarney, New Twopothouse and Ballyhea will benefit but it will also address safety and the deficiency on the existing road and will deliver active travel infrastructure along the corridor along with the better opportunities we all want.”
“The Deputy is dead right. I thank him for his ongoing support and advocacy concerning the importance of the N20-M20 as a county councillor, as leader of the council and as a new Teachta Dála. He illustrated very clearly here the strategic importance of the road. He is 100% correct. I speak as a Cork person when I say that people have waited far too long. It is the piece that we are missing in our region for a variety of reasons, including safety and economic sustainability. I thank the Deputy for his very thought-provoking address tonight here to the House about this strategically important route, which is a priority for the Government.”
“Yes. We will continue to do that but we must also recognise that we have seen a 6% increase in the budget. We have seen an increase in terms of the community service programme, which reflects that we are in an evolving and changing world and as needs change challenges must be met. This is not something we are oblivious to. We have an open-door policy. There is engagement. We are not living in an ivory tower. If the Deputy wants to come back to me one-to-one, I am happy to sit down and chat to him about some of the issues we need to address.”
“What the Department, the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and I are anxious to do is to provide significant seed capital and significant investment to further support and enhance-----”
“The important point where we have shared commonality is that the Government is committed to supporting the implementation of a new strategy. The community and voluntary sector is an important pillar and we look forward to working continually to ensure that relationship is not just strengthened but that it is a partnership between the Government and the sector. I could list the Deputy a whole raft of projects, which I will not do, in his county that we have funded. I do not agree we have missed milestones. If we speak about social enterprise, it has been a success story and it has shown empowerment, innovation and employment and the opportunity presented to people. That is something we can come back to.”
“For the Minister and I, it is about ensuring the five pillars are there and that we look at them and see how we can deliver for people in an evolving and changing situation, recognising that we have made significant progress.”
“The new strategy will take into account the new challenges facing the community and voluntary sector. It is evolving and changing and we are not oblivious to that. Richard Bruton, in the social enterprise space, will certainly drive and hold us to account. The previous strategy delivered significant progress in terms of a variety of metrics. Our future direction, policy and decision-making will be a reflection of our engagement but also of lived experience. The Minister and I live in communities involved in the sector and we know the sector. It is about those values and principles of partnership and collaboration but also about recognising that we must build an inclusive society.”
“It will build on the existing structures, strategic objectives and achievements of the previous strategy while also taking account of new context challenges and priorities for the community and voluntary sector. Our aim is to strengthen further the relationship and the partnership between the whole-of-government and the community and voluntary sector, which has developed significantly over the past couple of years. A further round of consultations with key stakeholders has recently concluded. It is my expectation that the finalised document will be submitted for our Department's approval in the coming weeks with a tentative publication date of quarter 2 of this year.”
“The Minister and I are very anxious that this partnership in collaboration with the voluntary and community sector is continued. There has been a lot of engagement in the consultation process. Almost 250 submissions were received in the online consultation, which took place over a six-week period in August. The new strategy will be a whole-of-government strategy led by our Department and will reflect the ambition of the Minister and I to work in partnership with the sector. It will be implemented collaboratively with the community and voluntary sector and will be overseen by a cross-sectoral group on local and community development. It is our intention and our ambition that the new strategy will be a four-year one for 2026 to 2030.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis Teachta Ó Murchú. As the Deputy knows, the process of the development of a new strategy to support community and voluntary sector as a successor to Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities is well under way. It is being informed by an extensive public and stakeholder consultation process. This process has included an in-person consultation event, which took place in Tullamore last July and which I attended. I can tell the House it was a very well-attended event. There was strong, robust and positive engagement. This was followed by a very in-depth online public consultation together with bilateral consultation with stakeholder groups and written submissions from across Government Departments.”
“Again, our community and voluntary sector is very resilient in the sourcing of funds. We will look at what we can do to support what is a very important pillar of our society.”
“I would love to do that because it is very important to support that organisation. The Deputy raised that already. The reality is that we have seen - for example, in the community services programme - an increase of €4 million to €59.4 million this year. We have seen a 6% increase in the budget. We will reflect on the articulation by the community and voluntary sector in terms of the preparation of the strategy and in the consultative process for the new Our Rural Future. I assure the Deputy the Minister and I are very much rooted in this sector. We want to ensure the challenges that are being encountered will be considered in the development of any new policies. When we had Covid and the cost-of-living crisis, and energy was at its core, the Government was not found wanting.”
“Both the Minister and I will reflect on that as we look at the new Our Rural Future design and the community and voluntary sector strategy when we publish it later this year.”
“The points the Deputy made are fair comments. Both the Minister and I are very much aware from our own involvement and engagement. We have travelled the country and met with the community and voluntary sector. As a former director of my own community association, I know they are very resilient in sourcing funding from a variety streams. In the budget announced last November, there is a 6% increase in funding from our Department, which is a demonstration of the ambition the Minister and I have in terms of supporting and developing community organisations in our rural towns, urban suburbs and communities across the country. This is a very genuine point. As part of the consultative process for Our Rural Future and in new the community and voluntary sector strategy, there has been a strong articulation of the points the Deputy has raised.”
“In the Gaeltacht region, there is a comprehensive development approach to managing the increased demand for funding from Gaeltacht community development organisations, with a 59% direct increase in funding to these organisations. Both the Minister and I are very much aware of the issues and challenges our community centres, which are operated in the main by voluntary boards, are facing.”
“It is a total allocation of €59.4 million for this year alone. Some 78 community centres and other community facilities are funded under the CSP, supporting a total of 380 staff posts, 53 managers and 327 full-time equivalent staff. This amount of total funding allocated is €36.2 million over the current five-year timeframe of this programme. In line with the programme for Government commitment and together with the Minister, our Department last year announced our intention to hold an open call early this year on the new CSP programme. The design of this open call is under way. Details, including eligible community services and organisations, will be announced in the coming weeks.”
“I thank the Deputy for her very important question. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, and I are aware of the challenges that many large community groups that operate community centres face in relation to the operation and staffing costs. In our consultation processes for the new strategy for the community and voluntary sector, it has emerged as an issue of concern. As the Deputy knows, the community and voluntary sector is quite diverse and receives financial support through a variety and wide range of funding programmes and schemes from several Government Departments and agencies, including our Department. Our Department's community service programme, CSP, for the four year period from 2023 to 2027 currently supports the delivery of 445 local services, which is 426 organisations.”
“The section between Claremorris and Collooney is not included in the recommendations of the rail review strategy. The rail review will again be reviewed and updated once a decade, taking into account, as I said, the latest policies and developments, which point to potential extension of the western rail corridor further north to Collooney, and can be then reconsidered. I will ask the office of the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, to liaise with the Senator if she has any further questions.”
“As previously mentioned, there are no active schemes within the greenways programme planned for any section of the disused western rail corridor between Claremorris and Collooney. The all-Ireland strategic rail review sets out 32 strategic recommendations to enhance and expand the rail system in Ireland and Northern Ireland on a phased basis up to 2050. Included in these recommendations is the reinstatement of the western rail corridor between Claremorris and Athenry. This project was also identified as a major project to be progressed under the rail project prioritisation strategy published in December of last year. The NDP sectoral investment plan published by my Department in November also includes funding to help commence this reinstatement project.”
“It concluded that this was not feasible due to a range of factors including increased cost, the potential impact on special areas of conservation and land acquisition, as well as various engineering challenges. On this basis, Sligo County Council opted to suspend work on the greenway scheme in late 2025 as the alongside option was not a viable option. I hope that this helps clarify the matter for Senator Cosgrove.”
“Iarnród Éireann communicated in December 2024 that it was no longer able to support the greenway on the existing alignment at this time. Accordingly, Sligo County Council initiated a review in mid-2025 to ascertain if it is feasible to accommodate a greenway and a railway on the railway corridor. This review took account of the available width of the corridor as well as parameters maintained by Iarnród Éireann in relation to the offset distances required between a railway line and a greenway corridor. This review concluded that it was not possible to accommodate both modes within the railway corridor. The report also reviewed the potential to develop an alongside option that would be guided by the principle of aligning the greenway parallel to the disused railway line.”
“Separately, on the section of the disused railway line in County Mayo, to date, no submission has been received by TII from Mayo County Council in relation to progressing a greenway route between Claremorris and Charlestown. A feasibility study cannot be completed on a greenway scheme that has not been submitted for consideration of funding by the relevant sponsoring authority for review by TII. The section of the disused railway from Bellaghy to Sligo was an active scheme within the greenways programme until the end of last year. As part the development of this scheme, a third public consultation was held in November of 2024 regarding the emerging preferred corridor. The emerging preferred corridor was centred on the disused railway line, which remains in the ownership of Irish Rail, or Iarnród Éireann.”
“This review will provide the opportunity to reconsider a potential extension of the western rail corridor further north, taking account of the latest policies and developments, for example, if there is an increased passenger demand as a result of the reinstatement of the line between Claremorris and Athenry. In relation to the proposed greenway between Claremorris and Collooney, the section of the disused railway from Claremorris to Bellaghy has never been included as a scheme within the greenways programme, which is funded by the Department of Transport through Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII. Sponsoring authorities, generally local authorities, may submit a case for annual funding to TII for consideration in relation to the greenway schemes.”
“Modelling undertaken as part of the rail review published in 2024 found that investments on the disused line between Claremorris and Sligo and onwards to Donegal would result in very low demand for passenger rail services and that building a railway would have a significant adverse impact on the environment. For these reasons, the project was not included in the recommendations of the rail review; hence it was not identified as a major project to be progressed in the rail project prioritisation strategy. However, the rail review will be reviewed and updated once a decade.”
“The strategy specifies short-term rail infrastructure investments, referred to as early interventions, to be delivered by 2030, including new track, passing loops and platforms to boost the rail network’s resilience and capacity, which are funded under the NDP sectoral investment plan for transport published by the Department in November 2025. The strategy also identifies major projects to be progressed in the longer run, involving intercity electrification and significant capacity upgrades on the rail network. This includes the reinstatement of the western rail corridor between Claremorris and Athenry. The NDP sectoral investment plan also provides funding to help commence this reinstatement project.”
“I thank the Senator for raising this important matter and again apologise for being late. I am taking the matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, who is genuinely apologetic he cannot be here. The Department of Transport, together with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, published the rail project prioritisation strategy last year. This strategy outlines how to best sequence and optimise the recommendations of the all-island strategic rail review, which was published in July 2024.”
“Iarnród Éireann expresses its thanks to passengers and local communities for their patience and support while it looks to deliver rail projects across Cork and, hopefully, build capacity and greater frequency. I will work with the Senator to ensure the outcome we both desire.”
“I thank the Senator for raising the matter. I apologise for it taking three attempts. She should not have to raise the matter three times to get the answer from the Department. As a Minister of State and formerly a Member of this House for 19 years, it is about representing constituencies and commuters in the Banteer-Mallow area. It is an important issue. As Minister of State with responsibility for rural transport, I am aware of the pertinence of the Cork area commuter rail programme to people's lives. It is progressing well. I will not read out all the different things because the other areas are not important to her. What is important to her is that passengers and commuters get access to services. I will work with the NTA, Iarnród Éireann and the Senator.”
“The new DART+ fleet begins entering service from 2027, at which time we can review deployment of intercity and commuter trains which become available as a result. Their deployment will be subject to the approval of the NTA. I assure the Senator I have been in discussion with the NTA and will meet its representatives again. I am from Cork and am very familiar with Banteer and Millstreet. Senator Lynch has also raised it with me and I know of the issue from talking to family members living in the area. I look forward to working with Senator Ryan and others to ensure the best outcome for commuters.”
“This ensures early morning Dublin-bound customers have a workable connection at the start of the working week. larnród Éireann recognise this results in the absence of the 5.45 a.m. Tralee-Cork service for customers travelling on Monday, including those from Banteer and Millstreet, who benefit from the service from Tuesday to Friday. At present, the fleet is fully deployed across the network and there is no train set available to operate this service on Mondays without displacing the early Dublin connection. There are, however, alternative bus services available on a Monday morning, operating on the Expressway service and commencing at 6.15 a.m. I understand the NTA is in discussions with larnród Éireann on the scope or otherwise to introduce an early Monday morning Banteer to Cork rail service.”
“Leap card users can save up to 30% compared to paying with cash, making it a more cost-effective option for regular travel. In relation to train services, there are two trains, as Senator Ryan knows, which commence from Tralee on a Tuesday-to-Friday basis and which serve Banteer and Millstreet. The first operates at 5.45 a.m. and goes from Tralee to Cork, and the second train is the direct 7.05 a.m. Tralee-Heuston service from Monday to Saturday. On Mondays, there is a specific and consistently strong demand for an early connection to Dublin. To meet this requirement, the first train is deployed to operate the 4.30 a.m. Tralee-Mallow service, which connects into the 5.40 a.m. Cork-Heuston train, facilitating an arrival into Dublin at 8.17 a.m.”
“Senator Ryan raised extending the Cork city Leap boundary to Millstreet station. The NTA has advised that it has no current plans to extend the boundary. However, I would like to remind Senators that there are currently two Leap card options available which offer 50% discounted travel for young people and students. The young adult card is available to all young adults aged 19 to 25 and the student Leap card is available to full-time students aged 16 to 18 and those aged 26 and over. Qualification is based on students being in full-time education or training for at least 16 hours per week. Any student who meets the eligibility criteria, supported by a valid student ID, can have a student Leap card. The NTA encourages all customers to use the TFI Leap card to ensure they receive the best possible value on fares.”
“I reassure the Senator that the Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. In our own county of Cork we have seen significant investment in the Cork area commuter rail programme. To support this objective, in budget 2026, the Department of Transport secured €940 million of funding for PSO and TFI Local Link services, providing a significant 43% uplift, an increase from €658.4 million in 2025. The allocation further supports subsidised bus and rail services across Ireland, including in Cork, as well as maintaining targeted fares initiatives such as the recently introduced free travel for all children up to the age of nine and the young adult card, as part of the NTA's national fares strategy.”