'Serious questions' about €800,000 worth of upgrades at bus station in Cork City

Upgrades did not address the 'disgraceful condition of the toilets' in Parnell Place, Cork TD says

Figures provided by Bus Éireann show €795,716 has been spent on the city centre bus station since 2021. Picture: Dan Linehan

Nearly €800,000 has been spent on Parnell Place bus station in the last five years — but there is uncertainty over what exactly it was spent on.

Figures provided by Bus Éireann show €795,716 has been spent on the city centre bus station since 2021.

An expenditure of €58,822 was made in 2021, €60,137 in 2022, €239,587 in 2023, €221,776 in 2024 and €215,394 in 2025.

Plans unveiled last November proposed a significant upgrade of the station, including the conversion of the former Twilight News shop unit, vacant since the business closed in early 2024, into a luggage storage facility.

The proposals also included new non-slip flooring, fully automatic doors, upgraded walls and ceilings, new seating and desks, and additional shelving.

A new staff office, reception area, kitchenette, changing places facility, cleaners' store, and upgraded toilets also formed part of the scheme submitted to Cork City Council for approval.

While Bus Éireann did not provide a timeline for the works, then transport minister Eamon Ryan said in 2024 a €5.3m accessibility upgrade for the station was planned under the Public Transport Retrofit Accessibility Programme, with construction scheduled to begin in 2026.

Some improvements have been completed, including the installation of automatic doors, new seating, and digital real-time passenger information displays. 

However, the former shop unit remains vacant, while parts of the station, including the flooring, walls, ceilings and toilet facilities, continue to show signs of wear.

Bus Éireann did not reply to a query on what works had been completed to date.

Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould, who obtained the figures from Bus Éireann, said for the amount spent, there was little to show for it.

He told the Irish Examiner: “There have undoubtedly been some improvements to the seating and doors in the bus station. These are welcome but there are serious questions about whether this was €800,000 worth of upgrades.

“Nobody has ever contacted me because they couldn’t find their bus in the station. The staff have always been helpful and available.

“People have repeatedly contacted me about the disgraceful condition of the toilets, which remain in an appalling state and only accessible with a 20c coin."

Mr Gould called for the NTA to outline what exactly the money had been spent on. He said: “It’s unclear why signage was prioritised over accessible, clean toilets.”