‘Absolutely shocking’ - Carlow councillors’ request for meeting falls on deaf ears
The issue was raised by Cllr Adrienne Wallace at the April meeting of Carlow County Council
A number of Carlow councillors have expressed their frustration as their request for a meeting with the National Transport Authority (NTA) continues to fall on deaf ears.
The issue was raised by People Before Profit-Solidarity councillor Adrienne Wallace at the April meeting of Carlow County Council.
Cllr Wallace criticised the NTA for the lack of public transport in rural parts of the county, describing it as “absolutely shocking”.
She continued by saying that the Government claims to want to reduce carbon emissions but refuses to fund public transport.
Cllr Wallace went on to describe the council’s struggle to get a meeting with NTA officials.
However, she complimented Carlow Senator Patricia Stephenson on managing to meet with them.
Cllr Wallace added that at the meeting, Senator Stephenson was told there is no money for public transport.
In response, Pádraig O’Gorman, Director of Services at Carlow County Council, said that NTA officials are due to visit Carlow in the second half of this year.
Mr O’Gorman added that during their visit, they are expected to meet with councillors to discuss the Carlow Town bus service.
They will also give details of plans for a depot for electric buses in the town.
Later in the meeting, Fianna Fáil councillor Andrea Dalton also expressed her frustration with the NTA.
She said that councillors were promised a meeting with the NTA a year after the implementation of the Carlow town bus service, which was in July 2023.
Cllr Dalton said she was “bitterly disappointed” by the fact that that meeting still hasn’t taken place, a situation she described as “just not acceptable”.
These sentiments were also echoed by the Cathaoirleach, Fianna Fáil councillor Ken Murnane.
In response to the two councillors, Mr O’Gorman expressed hope that the council might get an update from the NTA soon with regards to the bus service review.