🏘️ Tackling Vacancy and Dereliction in Our Towns and Villages Today in the Dáil, I spoke about the need to tackle vacancy and dereliction in our towns and villages across Cork North West and throughout the country. Too many town centres have vacant buildings and derelict properties that could be brought back into use as homes, supporting local businesses and helping our communities to thrive. We need to make better use of the buildings we already have, support the refurbishment of vacant properties and ensure that our towns and villages remain attractive places to live, work and do business. Revitalising our town centres is not just about buildings — it is about creating homes, supporting local businesses and building stronger, more vibrant communities for future generations. I will continue to push for practical action and effective measures to bring vacant and derelict properties back into use. 🎥 Watch my contribution in the Dáil today. John Paul #CorkNorthWest #Vacancy #Dereliction #TownCentreFirst #RevitalisingOurTowns

My clinics take place this Friday in #Charleville, #Doneraile and #Millstreet. Then on Saturday, I will be in #Macroom and #Newmarket. If you wish to meet with me on any issue, please contact my office on 029 20264 to arrange an appointment. John Paul

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. More info here: johnpauloshea.ie/oshea-expre…