Local TD, Denis Naughten has welcomed the announcement by Bus Éireann that it is to seek a bus licence to provide a service to the town of Elphin, which is as a direct result of the public response by the local community, but asks, at what cost in the long term?

“While the announcement is welcome, one has to ask how is it possible considering that we are informed by Bus Éireann, the transport regulator & the Department of Transport that the background to the decision to withdraw the service, was an issue of funding, yet the solution, now proposed, will cost far more than maintaining the service that was in place up until earlier this month”.

“This begs the question; will the new service be sustainable in the future with further cuts promised?”

“Bus Éireann have clearly been taken aback by the local response to the removal of the bus service to the town of Elphin, and I want to thank the local community for their actions & the regional manager of Bus Éireann for listening to the community” said Denis Naughten.

“This decision again highlights the need for local consultation which I believe had it happened in advance of the announcement of the withdrawal of the bus service, could have facilitated a workable solution”.

Mr. Naughten said “While it is not a daily service, like the one that had been in place, it is a vast improvement on the situation over the last number of weeks”

“I hope that Bus Éireann, the Department of Transport & the bus regulator have learned lessons and that in future they sit down with local communities in advance of such decisions”.

“I now hope that Bus Éireann will listen to the communities in Roosky, Dromod and Ballinamore to ensure that they have proper access to a service to local towns” concluded Denis Naughten.