Irish Rural Link (IRL) – the national network of rural community groups – has expressed disappointment at Bus Éireann’s announcement of more cuts in services around the country. Eighteen routes countrywide could see services halved, as well as the cancellation of one route. The changes come into effect on March 28th.

According to Irish Rural Link Policy and Communications Officer Seán O'Leary “Bus Éireann continue to renege on the €45m public service obligation payment they receive to subsidise the cost of running public services which are not commercially viable. Nobody seems to have the power to order Bus Éireann to return a portion of this subvention to community run rural transport companies. Instead we have a so-called “National” Transport Authority with a Dublin centric board and no rural remit. Now its cutting services how much of the grant for carrying free travel pass holders Bus Éireann will return must also be clarified.”

Mr. O’Leary continued “Public transport is a public service and if Bus Éireann continues its slash and burn approach to routes it considers unprofitable we will be left with a handful of express buses with nothing in between. If Bus Éireann refuses to continue services they’re paid to provide someone else must be given a chance to do it. Nobody seems to have the will to force them to release route licences to private operators even though they’ve abandoned the route.”

-Ends-

For further information, please contact (anytime):
Seamus Boland (Chief Executive) 090 6482744 or 086 249 1153
Seán O’Leary (Policy and Communications Officer) 090 648 2744 or 083 333 9364

Notes for editors
The following service changes to come into effect from 28th March 2010:

Timetable and Routing Changes
Cork City Route 12 (Glenthorn via the Glen to Merchants Quay) - Service operates 15 times a day in each direction. Service will be reduced to five times per day in each direction

Cork City Route 5A (Merchants Quay –Blackpool - Mallow Road) - Route 5A is withdrawn with the exception of 07.25 ex. Merchants Quay and 07.40 ex. Mallow Road departures.

Cork City Route 19 (Mahon – Douglas – Ballyphehane – Togher – Bishopstown - Orbital Route)
18 departures per day each way reduced to 15 departures per day each way.

462/463/464/465/467 Local services – Carrigallen based vehicle serving Sligo, Enniskillen and Cavan on different days
Re-organisation of local network of services that will see routes altered and some reduction in frequency. Existing service is one day per week rural service based in Carrigallen operating to different locations each day.

23 Sligo-Dublin -Reduction from seven departures per day each way to six departures per day each way.

Route 7 Cork –Clonmel-Kilkenny - The 18.30 Cork/Clonmel/Kilkenny/Carlow Friday only service will operate to Kilkenny only.

Route 343 Limerick-Shannon - Service operates 26 departures per day (Monday to Saturday) in each direction. Change will see 24 departures in each direction per day.

The 06.55 Patrickswell to Shannon service will also be withdrawn.

Route 308 Caherdavin-University of Limerick - Operates every 15 minutes to City. The 16.10 service from UL to Caherdavin during college terms will be withdrawn. Alternative services available on 308 and on 302 service from City Centre to Caherdavin.

Route 274 Tralee-Ballybunion - 7.25 Monday to Friday service from Ballybunion to Ballyheigue, and 16.45 from Ballyheigue to Ballybunion elements of the service are withdrawn. Alternative services are available via Listowel.

Route 284 Tralee-Killarney - 08.00 Killarney to Tralee service on Saturday only is withdrawn. Alternative later services on a Saturday are available on Route 284 and inter-city Route 40.

Route 115 / 118 Mullingar-Ballivor-Dublin - Currently operates four services a day in each direction. Change will see a reduction of two services a day in each direction.

Route 132 Tullow-Dublin - Service operates three times a day in each direction. Change involves a reduction to one service a day in each direction.

Route 163 Drogheda-Donore-Newgrange - Service operates six times a day in each direction. Change involves a reduction to two services a day in each direction.

Service withdrawn from 28th March 2010
Route 70 Galway-Athlone
Withdrawal of Galway-Athlone leg of this service which operates once a day in each direction.