NTA doesn’t want to move Donegal Town’s bus stop from the Diamond

Traffic congestion on Donegal Town’s Diamond is a regular occurrence, with the bus stop recognised as a big part of the problem. 

Yet it appears that the National Transport Association (NTA) wants the bus stop to remain in the same location. This is despite the availability of a site to accommodate not far from the town centre. 

At the April meeting of the Municipal District (MD) of Donegal, Cllr Noel Jordan (SF) expressed his incredulity at the NTA’s attitude. 

He said that not only was the current situation leading to traffic jams, but it was excluding some passengers with additional accessibility requirements. 

“I have heard from a parent with a disabled young man who can’t access that stop off point in Donegal Town,” said Cllr Jordan. “When we speak to the drivers and to Local Link they tell us they can’t access the infrastructure to let on that  young disabled man that is not good enough.”

The councillor said that meetings with Bus Eireann had taken place, and the provider was in favour of moving the bus stop.

“But the NTA is digging in its heels,” he said. “They don’t seem to want to move from the front of the Abbey Hotel. That stop is not fit for purpose. 

“There is an alternative that can be secured. Bus Eireann is supporting it.The  NTA is not supporting it. 

“I would like that there is a letter sent from here today saying that we will not support any of their proposals for keeping the bus stop at the Abbey Hotel.

“There is too much congestion. It is a nightmare for the public and a nightmare for drivers.

“The NTA’s  proposals are not workable.”Area Roads Officer for Donegal County Council Mark Sweeney was in agreement. 

“The bus stop there is not fit for purpose,” he said.

Mr Sweeney said that there were more buses than ever before  using the bus stop on the Diamond. 

“People are getting Local Link to the town to get a bus to somewhere else, and more buses are appearing at the bus stops,” he said. 

“If we get the majority of buses going to Dublin, Sligo etc moved out of town, we can leave the local buses there and that will alleviate the congestion. 

“You can have five buses there at any one time and people are feeling that on the ground with traffic jams.

 “I am happy to send a letter to say that any proposal there will not be supported.”