Letterkenny left in limbo as no timeline confirmed for new Town Bus service

There is no confirmed timeline yet for a new Town Bus service in Letterkenny to replace the discontinued private service.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has said it is currently liaising with Donegal County Council to design new routes, which involve the design of over 80 bus stop locations.

The matter was raised at the March meeting of Letterkenny-Milford MD by Fine Gael Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh. He stressed the importance of getting a “comprehensive” town bus service back in the town, and said it is an important aspect of Active Travel plans.

Cllr Kavanagh said that a consultation with the NTA in 2024 established the need for an updated service, scheduled for the end of 2025. He also raised concerns that the town is now also without a disabled taxi service, which has also ceased.

“The discontinued private service may not have been very widely used but it was hugely important for the people that did use it, including elderly and disabled people and some of those have been in contact with me and other members over the last few weeks,” said Cllr Kavanagh.

READ NEXT: Calls for safer pedestrian crossing for ATU Donegal students at Letterkenny campus

He compared Letterkenny’s situation with that of Mullingar, a town with a similar population size, saying the NTA recently started a new bus service there.

“The Mullingar service is three buses, a bus every half hour, running from 6:10am in the morning until 23:50pm at night, seven days a week, with distinctive easily recognised buses and bus stops,” explained Cllr Kavanagh.

He called for the possibility of a temporary service in the intertim to be explored, and asked for the council to write to the Department of Transport and the NTA.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Ciaran Brogan, Caothaoirleach of Letterkenny-Milford MD, said the town bus discontinuation was a “huge setback” for Letterkenny. His party colleague, Cllr Donal Coyle, also expressed doubt over the new service, saying it “doesn’t look like the near future”.

David McIlwaine, Senior Executive Engineer of the Roads and Transportation team, said that the council has been working with the NTA and they would pursue further correspondence to try to set up a meeting.

The official council response reads: “The provision of the Bus Service is managed through the National Transport Authority. Donegal County Council has no direct involvement on the provision of this service. Following Consultation with the National Transport Authority they have advised the following: that the National Transport Authority had received confirmation that the Town Bus Service that was operated in Letterkenny on a commercial basis had now ceased.

READ NEXT: Donegal County Council urged to ensure disabled parking bays meet new standards

“Following a Public Consultation in August 2024, a plan was finalised by the NTA for a new subsidised town bus services in Letterkenny under a Public Service Obligation. The NTA also stated that the provision of the new service is subject to funding and operational readiness, and a firm timeline for their introduction cannot be provided at present. 

“The new service when provided will involve the development of two routes LY1 East West Route An Glenn Rua to Lisnennan and LY2 North South Route from Ballymacool to the Mountain Top. 

“The NTA are currently in the process of designing these routes which involve the design of over 80 Bus Stop locations and assessing levels of Infrastructure that is required. The NTA are liaising with Donegal County Council regarding the detail of developing these routes.”