'We need to fight tooth and nail': anger at withdrawal of Leitrim bus service

'Urgent' action is required after a bus route was pulled from Carrigallen to Longford, a Leitrim councillor said this week stating that if the route is cut, others will follow and the service has an important social element.

Cllr Roisin Kenny asked that Leitrim County Council urgently contact, the National Transport Authority, Bus Eireann, the Minister for Transport and any other relevant authority to ask that the decision to withdraw the 463 bus service from Carrigallen to Longford be reversed.

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Cllr Kenny said that bus had previously operated on Mondays and Wednesdays but ceased operating on 17 September. 

She contacted the Bus Eireann and said she was told "there are no plans to cut that service" however the following day "the 463 bus service had completely disappeared."

She said that the bus driver has advised her that the decision is under the realm of the National Transport Authority. 

She said he "said that if we let them take the services for Longford, the next thing is Enniskillen, Cavan and Sligo will go too; it's only the tip of the iceberg so he wants us as local representatives to fight tooth and nail to keep theses services."

She said there is an important social aspect to the services for those who may be isolated. "For a lot of elderly people, it is their only outing of the week; they know the bus driver; it's much more than just a bus service. I think it's vital that it's kept. It's a social thing as much as anything else."

She added that she understood the route has been 'paused' until October but said she wants the decision reversed "as a matter of urgency".

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Cllr Paddy O'Rourke seconded the motion stating that "for many people in the area who don't drive, it's their one outing. The alternative is that a member of those people's family, if lucky enough to be able to make arrangements, will run them in. But they don't get the interaction with their friends and feel they are a burden on someone who is doing that for them. This gives them the freedom to go over to Longford and return home without being a burden to anyone."

He added that more cars on the road means a "larger carbon print".