New bus service for Laois students at risk claims Laois Minister

A bus service due to connect Mountrath and Carlow is under threat due to problems recruiting drivers, a Laois Offaly Minister has claimed. 

Minister of State Pippa Hackett made the claim about a new  National Transport Authority (NTA) announced earlier in 2023. Under the plan 67 new or enhanced Connecting Ireland bus services are proposed around the country.

One such service proposed linking Mountrath and Carlow. The 822 was due to go into operation in the late summer or early autumn of 2023 providing students and others a means of getting from Laois to Carlow and back.

However, the Green Party politician says there are now questions over it proceeding. 

“I made enquiries recently about a new route, the 822 from Mountrath to Carlow which will be of great benefit to students of SETU. This route is due to start in the autumn in time for the new college year and is currently on target. But the NTA told me that the shortage of drivers is a risk factor.  Government can roll out as many new routes as we like but if we don’t have the drivers those routes won’t be operating to their full potential," she said. 

Minister Hackett commended the work of Laois Offaly ETB who are offering training to meet the shortage.

“To drive a bus you need a full Drivers D licence and Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). LOETB regularly offer this training to holders of provisional D licences and I see another course starting in August in Tullamore,” she said.

The Senator appealed to anyone starting out or thinking of a career change to consider becoming a bus driver. Her call comes as the Government continues to roll out new bus routes across the Midlands. 

“Bus drivers offer a really important service to our communities and the significance of this will increase as we move to decarbonise the way we travel. Bus drivers are climate action warriors and I hope that more people will consider this possibility for a fulfilling career,” she said.

The Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, an initiative of the NTA, aims to create a more integrated, accessible and sustainable public transport network for rural Ireland.