Transport Minister “asleep at the wheel” as Sligo councillors wait for long promised bus service
A MIXTURE of frustration and disappointment that a new bus service - the S3 - expected to be announced in January 2024 and launched in February - has not happened was expressed by a host of councillors at the most recent meeting of Sligo County Council where one councillor described the transport minister, Eamonn Ryan, as being “asleep at the wheel”.
Cllr Tom MacSharry, raising the delays in having the service confirmed and introduced, despite repeated promises that it was “imminent,” said councillors were “screaming for the service” such was the level of demand from people who feel “disenfranchised” because they have no bus service in parts of Sligo town and beyond.
“We were very disappointed at the municipal district meeting when correspondence which was sent by the very diligent staff of Sligo County Council to the National Transport Authority (NTA) fell on deaf ears.”
He said he was advised to contact the Minister for Transport directly and through his motion was hoping to do so.
His motion, which was adopted, called on Sligo County Council to write to the Minister for Transport requesting an urgent update on the provision of any new bus services in the county of Sligo.
“We all know the need for the S3 Bus Service to cover the Sligo town, Maugheraboy, Ballydoogan and all those other areas that have been completely disenfranchised by what was an excellent bus service.
“Now there is no bus service.
“We have heard several times that the S3 service is ‘at an advanced stage’. First it was to happen in December, then it was January 2024 and now I am hearing that it is imminent.
“It is a very important infrastructural project for the National Transport Authority in terms of its priorities for 2024.
“In addition, we sought an urgent meeting with the NTA in relation to the S1 service and trying to divert the S1 [to some of the areas mentioned which are without a service].
“I understand we need to have a resolution from here that we do write to the Minister for Transport in relation to the bus services, the S3 in particular.
“We are screaming for the service, and I think it is regrettable that we have a minister in the transport portfolio [Eamonn Ryan] who, to me, seems completely asleep at the wheel.
“He is all pro public service, but when we look for, and again we had very productive meetings with the NTA in this chamber, and I felt fully met their brief, but things seem to be lagging now at the moment, so “I think it is very important we do write to the minister and keep the urgency to the fore.”
Cllr Thomas Walsh said it was an issue for a long, long time. They had five meetings with the NTA in the chamber. He said it is vital also that Carraroe Retail Park has that bus service to and from Sligo town.
He said it was stated that it would be announced in January and rolled out in February.
Cllr Dara Mulvey agreed, adding that a service joining up Ballymote and Tubbercurry was needed. He cited a report showing there was a 24% increase in bus use. “There is a huge demand for these services, but we need the service put in place before you can use it. The minister must give the funding to put these bus routes in place,” he said.
Cllr Marie Casserly also supported the motion. “The S3 service will just complete the jigsaw in Sligo town. But people in Maugheraboy are just beyond frustrated waiting on this service to happen, they are upset and frustrated as they are just not getting the service and have been campaigning for it for many years. The sooner the better.”
Cllr Michael Clarke said in west Sligo the difficulty was that buses were not turning up and people were being left on the side of the road. It appeared to him that if a driver is not available, inevitably it is the Ballina route which loses out. “The Ballina route driver is moved to accommodate other routes considered more important,” he said.
Cllr Rosaleen O’Grady, a resident of Tracey Avenue, said she recalled the former service being used by her late parents. Now there was no service. She suggested some of the existing bus services in nearby areas could be diverted to facilitate those not getting a bus service.
“We know how difficult it is to get a response from the NTA, they have been dragging their feet and kicking the can down the road for as long as I can remember.”
Supporting the comments, Cllr Paul Taylor said he wanted to see Tubbercurry, south Sligo included in the Local link service and for a route to run from there to Bellaghy and Charlestown. “It is crying out for a Local Link service,” he said.