By Emma Ryan
DONEGAL needs an additional 20 double decker buses to cope with demand, according to a Ballybofey Stranorlar Councillor.
Cllr Patrick McGowan raised the issue at a recent meeting of Donegal County Council and claimed Bus Eireann has been forced to leave passengers behind, many elderly, due to pressure on services.
The motion stated, “Donegal’s Bus Eireann public service needs twenty double decker buses and additional drivers immediately as people attending urgent medical appointments and other business in Dublin and Galway cannot be guaranteed a seat and with implications also for those who are entitled to free transport.”
Cllr McGowan said the 20 buses should be split – 10 for Letterkenny and 10 for Donegal Town.
“I have been asked to raise this by patients, parents and elderly people.
“We had double decker buses for a while but they don’t seem to be in operation now.
“We also do not have reserve drivers so if a bus breaks down, passengers just have to wait for the next bus to come along.
“It is bad enough that patients have to go to Dublin or Galway for hospital appointments but to think that we do not have an adequate public service to get patients
there.
“It is not about trains and the future – we can’t even organise a bus service for today,” said McGowan.
He also raised the issue that the bus service is not linked up so those who need to get a connecting bus often miss it.
“Someone sitting in the office needs to sit down and link up the transport – buses are coming into Letterkenny and the bus they need to go on is already gone.
“We need a bus to be there and not leave anyone behind.
“An integrated bus service linking up with the mini buses and other services,” said Cllr MCGowan.
The motion was seconded by Cllr Ciaran Brogan who said a lot of good work is being done in the local link service, and said if the services could be brought together, it would be a great opportunity.
Cllr Michael McClafferty voiced his support for the motion and said he was recently informed that a pensioner from Donegal was recently left behind in Dublin due to a lack of space on the bus.
A spokesperson for Donegal County Council said, “Through the auspices of the Local Community Development Committee a forum has recently been established with a view to coordinating public transport services in the county with the needs of the public and business and those providing education, training and health services.
“The first scoping meeting of this forum took place in September and included representatives from DLDC, ATU, ETB, HSE, IBEC, Bus Eireann, Local Link and Donegal County Council.
“It is planned to invite further relevant agencies and stakeholders to attend future meetings.”
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