Gaffney pleads for more bus services from Delvin and Clonmellon areas

A councillor who has called to have the weekly Local Link bus services on two rural Westmeath routes increased in frequency has been told by officials of the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District that this decision is outside their remit.

At the September meeting of the Mullingar–Kinnegad Municipal District, Cllr Niall Gaffney sought a feasibility assessment on expanding the WR31 and WR18 Local Link routes between Clonmellon and Mullingar, which currently run just once a week. The WR31 operates on Wednesdays, while the WR18 runs on Fridays.

Cllr Gaffney argued that the limited schedule was leaving rural residents – particularly in areas such as Turin, Cloughan, Rossmead and Adamstown – without adequate transport links, especially those living in Turin, for which – despite previous pleas on his part – no bus stops are being permitted.

He explained that because of the lack of bus stops in some areas, residents are unable to avail of the services of Bus Éireann on the days the Local Link buses are not running.

“These services are supposed to supplement Bus Éireann, not compete with them,” he said.

“When the Local Link buses come, they’ll pick people up at Eircode addresses and they’ll come up and all the way through Turin. And then to be told, ‘well, hang on, the people in Turin don’t need the bus’; or that Wednesdays and Fridays, once a week, will do them...”

Cllr Gaffney pointed to the success of the 818 service in Castlepollard as an example of how expanded routes could benefit local communities, adding: “We should be supporting and pushing for this. The existing Bus Éireann routes serve their purpose, but Local Link reaches the people who live off those main routes.”

Officials explained, however, that the request for a feasibility assessment could not be handled directly by the district.

Director of services Deirdre Reilly said it was not “within our gift” to carry out such a study and advised that representations would need to be made to Local Link Longford–Westmeath–Roscommon, which operates the services under Transport for Ireland.

Cllr Gaffney replied that he had already met with Local Link representatives and stressed that while funding decisions come from the department, the council still plays a key role.

“Ultimately, the power to designate bus stops rests with us,” he said.

District engineer Pat Kavanagh added that the council was generally supportive when bus operators applied for new stops. “I’d say we agree in 99% of them,” he said. “If they come to us with a proposal for Turin, we can certainly look at it.”

Ms Reilly clarified that while the council can approve bus stops, it is up to the transport providers to request them. She suggested councillors could strengthen the case by writing to Local Link and Transport for Ireland to show local support.

The motion concluded with agreement that a letter of support for expanded services and new bus stops would be sent on behalf of the district.