A Letterkenny councillor wants the National Transport Authority (NTA) to step up plans to introduce a new town bus service to the town.
Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh said the town has been without a service for a number of weeks since the previous service, operated by a private bus company, was discontinued.
And he wants Donegal County Council and the National Transport Authority to take steps to ensure the town bus service is brought back as a matter of urgency.
The Fine Gael councillor has tabled a motion on the future of the Letterkenny Town Bus Service for tomorrow’s monthly meeting of Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District.
He said a similar bus service was officially launched by the NTA in Mullingar in recent weeks, significantly enhancing public transport options for the town and surrounding communities.
“Mullingar and Letterkenny are very similar in terms of population,” he said.
“In fact according to the recent census figures, the difference is about 100 people
“Mullingar now has three buses, with the service operating from 6.10am every morning, and finishing at midnight, and that’s seven days a week.”
Heavy traffic on the Kilmacrennan Road in Letterkenny where the road is now lined out with cones as work continues on the Active Travel Project. Cllr Kavanagh said a Town Bus Service is an essential part of that project. Photo: Brian McDaid
Cllr Kavanagh said similar services operate in a number of large towns including Sligo, Kilkenny and Athlone. He said it’s his understanding that Ennis and Letterkenny are next in line to be considered for a new town bus service by the NTA.
“Unfortunately now that we have lost the service that was there, this is something that needs to be raised again,” he said.
“We must also remember that a town bus service is an essential part of the Active Travel Plan for Letterkenny. And it might mean that in some cases, a typical family in Letterkenny might be able to make do with just one car, if there is a proper town bus service there.”
A public consultation on a town bus service took place in 2024 and according to Cllr Kavanagh, Donegal County Council has been collaborating on the matter with the NTA since then.
“It has been a work in progress, but when you consider that you have to identify different bus stops, and that there could be as many as 55-60 bus stops involved, it’s a big job and there are a lot of things to consider.
“But the town needs a bus service and hopefully by raising the matter at our meeting this week, we can get an update on what’s happening.”
