Local Link push minister to support upcoming projects

Management from TFI Local Link Longford Westmeath Roscommon outlined their successes and sought support for upcoming projects when they met Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien during his visit to Westmeath this week.

The meeting was arranged and facilitated by Minister of State Robert Troy, and Minister O’Brien met the group shortly after the official opening of the new Saunders Bridge pedestrian and cycle crossing.

Minister Troy said: “I am pleased to have been able to facilitate this meeting and discussion with the minister.

“Local Link have been successful in recent years in launching additional services such as the 819 Mullingar to Athlone and the 818 Mullingar to Castlepollard.

“This meeting was an important opportunity for management locally to outline these successes and to also emphasis the importance of more funding to launch similar services in areas which are not currently covered.

“One of the future routes spoken about was a Ballymahon to Mullingar service, which would provide valuable public transport options for that corridor. This is a service I have been campaigning for and will continue to push with the minister and the National Transport Authority.”

Minister Troy said that though the Local Link company are not the providers of the recently launched Mullingar town bus service, “we went on to discuss its importance, and the need to expand the service to additional parts of town”.

“Minister O’Brien agreed that early indications show a successful launch period and that growing demand in alternative areas will be monitored in the coming months.

“It is important that we continue to invest heavily in public transport and provide cost efficient, reliable options,” concluded Minister Troy.