West Cavan Fianna Fáil Councillor, John Paul Feeley has condemned Bus
Eireann’s decision to cease servicing West Cavan as part of the No.30
service linking Donegal and Dublin.
‘For many years as a student in Dublin, I, like many people from West
Cavan availed of this service on a weekly basis and know, all to well
how important the service is to the people of all of West Cavan but in
particular the towns and villages served, Swanlinbar, Bawnboy and
Ballyconnell.’
The decision to terminate the Expressway Service with effect from the
14th October 2012 was announced last week also advised passengers in
Swanlinbar that they could avail of a once weekly service to
Enniskillen and passengers from Ballyconnell that they can now avail
of once weekly service to Cavan Town.
‘This decision, if not reversed is devastating for the communities
involved. The short timeframe from the public announcement to the
implementation and the suggestion that a once weekly service will be
available is insulting in the extreme.’
Emphasising that this service is vital for people with limited access
to private vehicles especially older people and students, the West
Cavan Councillor noted that the service was especially useful and
popular with third level students.
‘Rightly we must highlight the problem of rural isolation. Young
people can be totally dependant on others to get them to college and
to neighbouring towns to meet friends and avail of services. The
removal of this service increased the lack of access for young people
as well as that for older people; both groups are more likely to need
public transport.’
Bus Éireann are in receipt of substantial public subsidies and must
therefore adhere to a public service obligation and Councillor Feeley
has called on the Minster for Transport, Leo Varadkar TD and the
National Transport Authority to intervene to ensure that this service
is maintained.
‘My understanding is that when the Aghalane Road reopened Bus Éireann
diverted some of the Donegal service along the new road via Derrylin
to Enniskillen but also guaranteed that that Swanlinbar, Bawnboy and
Ballyconnell would continue to be serviced. Thos commitments must be
lived up to and I have communicated my feeling and those of the local
communities clear to Department of Transport, to the Office of the
Chief Executive and the Chairperson of the Board of Bus Éireann and
the National Transport Authority.’