Galway West TD Noel Grealish has expressed disappointment at the recent decision by the Government to not extend the reduction in bus fares to a company which offers public transport to thousands of Knocknacarra residents.
The Independent TD had highlighted the fact that there was now a 63 per cent difference in some fares between the privately-owned City Direct company and Bus Éireann services, when he tabled a Parliamentary Question calling for the Government-subsidised 20 per cent average reduction in Bus Éireann fares to be extended to cover all passengers.
“I am disappointed by the response, which basically just repeated what we already knew, that the funding for the fares reduction does not include an extension of the scheme to commercial operators,” Deputy Grealish says.
“As I have stressed before, there are thousands of people living in areas of Knocknacarra which are not serviced by Bus Éireann and who rely on the City Direct services for public transport.”
“It’s totally unfair that people living in estates along the Cappagh Road, much of the Western Distributor Road, the Clybaun Road and on to Rahoon should have to pay so much more for the same journey as their neighbours living along the southern parts of Knocknacarra,” he said.
