Bus routes roundabout from Cahir causes consternation for commuters

The inadequate response from NTA exploring the possibility of extending the 355 bus route (serving Cahir, Clonmel, Carrick-On-Suir and Waterford ) was raised at the recent Tipperary/Cahir/Cashel Municipal District meeting. After councillors penned a letter to the NTA, hopes were high of changing the roundabout route, however major disappointment was expressed by councillors at the NTA response to ongoing issues in Tipperary.

Councillor Andy Moloney said he was informed about an upcoming conference about transport improvements but said the National Transport Authority response “contradicts what the conference is about - reducing carbon footprint, making things more economical for links in rural Ireland,” he said.

Cllr Moloney went on to lament the fact that there is no accommodation for college students in Waterford and as a result they “are devoid of college life” and have to commute from southern parts of Tipperary. We are trying to bring them to Waterford and bring them home.

“The 17.20 bus that leaves Waterford (Campus) drops the kids in Waterford city at 17.40. That bus then continues to Carrick-On-Suir, turns around and goes back to collect the kids it has dropped at twenty to six. Then it leaves Waterford to come up to Cahir with the kids that got on the bus at 7 o’clock in the morning!

“These kids are getting back to Cahir at 8 o’clock (at night) instead of 7 o’clock. We wanted that bus to drive straight on and not turn in Carrick, but because of the tacograph they have the choice of using the 55 bus and the 355, so it is the 355 bus we want to ‘drive on’.”

Cllr Moloney continued the NTA suggestion would cost the students €45 a week extra for minimal benefit: “The driver driving the bus wants to have a full bus and drive on, but she (NTA representative) is saying use the 55 bus. If they use the 55 bus they have to pay an extra €9 to use a different bus service but because the ‘fit boy’ driving the 55 bus can’t do what he has to do within his hours, he has to step down for 45 minutes.

“So what he is doing is driving up the road after the 355 because he had a break, so we have two buses driving up the road half full.”

Councillor Moloney suggested ‘connectivity’ isn’t working in rural Ireland: “The mental health and wellbeing of the kids who could be below in the GAA field training at twenty past 7,” is affected he said, as there are 13 hours between getting the bus in the morning until returning at 8pm. 

“If we are to get technical about it the driver collects them at 10 to 7 rather than 7 o’clock,” he added clarifying that it was because of the traffic congestion problems in Waterford. 

“I share your concerns Councillor Moloney,” Councillor Declan Burgess said, adding that he “was used to emailing Anne Graham” but he got no response yet to the issues he raised in relation to buses serving Cashel. Both councillors suggested setting up a meeting with the NTA as a solution.