By Darragh Bermingham
MORE than 30 complaints were made about bus services in Donegal during a recent 15 month period, including 14 in the first three months of this year.
Information obtained from the National Transport Authority (NTA) revealed that 20 complaints were made about bus services in Donegal in 2023.
A further 14 were made in the first three months of this year, a major increase on the three complaints lodged during the same period in 2023.
Seven of the complaints related to bus stops and shelters, while six complaints centred around staff behaviour.
Four people complained about route or service issues, three highlighted issues with scheduling, three more queried timetables in the region and two complained about local link issues.
October saw the highest number of complaints in 2023 with six lodged in Donegal during that month.
So far this year, five complaints have been lodged with the NTA about Donegal bus services in both January and February, with four submitted in March.
The NTA and Bus Éireann were contacted for comment.
Bus Éireann provides nine public service obligation (PSO) routes in Donegal.
A spokesperson for Bus Éireann said the company served in excess of 45 million PSO passengers nationally in 2023, “a significant increase of over 28 per cent on the previous year”.
“Bus Éireann welcomes this growth and hopes it can be maintained into 2024 and beyond with the support of additional government investment in our fleet and public transport infrastructure.
“Bus Éireann takes all complaints about its services very seriously and all incidents are fully investigated,” the spokesperson added.
“Bus Éireann achieved a customer satisfaction rate of 93 per cent in 2023.”
Bus Éireann said it should be noted that bus stop design, location, erection, maintenance etc is the responsibility of the local authority and the NTA, not Bus Éireann.
The spokesperson added: “Bus Éireann would like to reassure customers that we are always happy to receive feedback so that we can improve our services.
“If a customer has a complaint, they should contact our customer care team by telephone on LoCall 0818 919 910 with the hours operating from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 6pm weekends and public holidays.”
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