Fine Gael TD Ciaran Cannon has been informed by the National Transport Authority that it has now issued a proposal to Local Link Galway for the development of new evening services connecting Loughrea to Galway city.
Local Link Galway has already developed a network of new bus routes across Co. Galway which offer public transport services where commercial operators are unable to provide such services.
“At last we have an acknowledgment from the National Transport Authority that the only public transport service connecting Loughrea to Galway is inadequate. Secondly, the NTA is now committing to solving that problem and is requesting Local Link Galway to provide additional evening services connecting the two locations”, said Deputy Cannon.
In an email to Deputy Cannon, the NTA confirms that it “recognises the merits of providing an evening service between Galway and Loughrea”. It goes on to say that the NTA has “issued proposals to Local Link to address the requirement for an evening service and are awaiting feedback on these proposals”. “I’m not giving up on this until those new evening services are in place.
“Right now, the last bus out of Galway to Loughrea each evening is at 6.00pm, and that’s completely unacceptable in a modern country seeking to persuade more people to use public transport.
“I’m hoping that the great team at Local Link Galway will work diligently on this proposal and revert to the NTA in the shortest possible timeframe. They have a great track record in putting new services in place. The need for such a service to Loughrea is plain for all to see”, concluded Deputy Cannon.
