Councillors at this week’s meeting of the Athlone Municipal District (July 3 ) raised concerns regarding where Bus Éireann is dropping off passengers intended for Clonbrusk Primary Care Centre.
While there is a bus stop in place outside the centre, passengers are currently being asked to disembark a distance down the road near B&Q in Arcadia.
A motion was raised by Cllr John Dolan (FG ) calling on the council to request Bus Éireann to review their bus service to ensure that Clonbrusk Primary Care Centre is appropriately serviced.
Cllr Dolan said passengers, some presumably in poor health requiring them to attend the centre, are getting off on a slippery green area before walking the rest of the distance to the centre, something he said is “not good enough”.
Mayor of Athlone, Aengus O’Rourke (FF ), said the bus stop outside the centre is there for a reason. He said people with health or mobility issues are not in a condition to walk any distance. He added that Bus Éireann said their buses cannot turn easily down towards the centre, but that he is “not buying” that excuse.
Fianna Fáil councillor, Frankie Keena, said Bus Éireann provides a good service and that it is important to encourage more people to use it. However, he added that the company’s service route is published for everyone to see, and that Bus Éireann cannot simply change their mind on it.
District Engineer, Pat Nally, said he was not aware of the issue before the meeting, and that the council had approved the bus stop at the centre as being suitable. He said the council will open correspondence with Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority in an effort to rectify the issue.
