7 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Call to improve ‘unacceptable' bus services in Ashbourne amid disruptions
Sinn Féin Councillor Helen Meyer said recent service delays are causing significant hardship for residents.
At the July meeting of the Ashbourne Municipal District, Cllr Meyer tabled a motion calling on Meath County Council to liaise more closely with Bus Éireann to ensure increased passenger capacity, particularly in light of the nearly 1,000 new housing units due for completion in Ashbourne over the coming months.
To illustrate the issue, she referenced a recent incident where the 7:40 AM weekday bus was cancelled, leaving passengers waiting nearly an hour for the next service—only for that bus to break down en route.
'This is happening all too often,' said Cllr Meyer. 'As a result of this poor service, people are missing medical appointments, arriving late for work, amongst other issues. This situation is simply not acceptable.'
She added: 'Buses are not turning up because a lot of them are breaking down.'
Cllr Meyer also requested that a formal letter be sent from the council to the National Transport Authority (NTA) outlining her concerns.
In response, Meath County Council confirmed that it regularly liaises with the NTA and relevant bus operators regarding routes and service levels throughout the county. The council referred to its County Development Plan, which includes a specific policy (MOV POL 8) supporting regular reviews of the local bus network and advocating for improvements in public transport provision.
However, the Council clarified that responsibility for bus service provision—including scheduling, reliability, and fleet maintenance—ultimately lies with the NTA and the operators, as set out in the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008.
The local authority also noted that the NTA has been made aware of the issues raised by Cllr Meyer, and that the council continues to support public transport infrastructure, including the delivery and maintenance of bus stops and shelters.
Elected members, they added, can contact the NTA directly regarding service concerns.
