Senator Aisling Dolan - Strong Voice, New Vision.
Crucial Athlone-Ballinasloe bus route needs urgent action by the National Transport Authority – Senator Aisling Dolan
New bus route could be operational in 2025, providing access to essential services, education institutions and businesses for communities across the region
Fine Gael General Election Candidate for the Roscommon-Galway constituency, Senator Aisling Dolan, is demanding urgent action from the National Transport Authority (NTA) to progress a new bus route between Athlone and Ballinasloe to public tender. According to Senator Dolan, the service needs to be operational in 2025, providing urgently-needed connectivity for communities across the constituency.
A passionate advocate for the establishment of a Local Link service between Athlone and Ballinasloe, Senator Dolan has been leading the campaign at a local and national level. She recently raised the matter, once again, in the Seanad, stressing the importance of connecting communities to essential services, education institutions, and businesses in both Athlone and Ballinasloe.
Responding to Senator Dolan in the Seanad, Minister of State for the Office of Public Works Kieran O'Donnell, confirmed that the NTA, as part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, is working on two proposals along the corridor with Local Link Galway.
“We are currently reviewing public transport connections between Loughrea, Ballinasloe and Athlone, serving settlements such as Kilconnell and Ballydangan. We also plan to improve evening connections between Galway and Loughrea. This is planned to go to public tender soon,” he said.
Senator Dolan said her call must be answered and that the NTA urgently needs to move to tender to provide this crucial service. “The Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan was meant to connect rural communities but this region has been neglected. I will continue to fight to ensure we get this over the line in the quickest time possible and, if elected, I will be the voice for this region in Government,” assured Senator Dolan.
Continuing, she said it is vital that we progress this tender without delay to provide transport to connect the communities living between the towns of Athlone and Ballinsloe, a stretch of 20 km. Furthermore, she pointed out that the existing bus infrastructure and bus stops along this Athlone to Ballinasloe route will reduce costs for Local Link and the NTA.
“The Bus Éireann Galway to Dublin regional routes, the 20 and X20 routes, were removed in 2021 because private providers Citylink and Aircoach were operating there. However, since April of this year, Aircoach has withdrawn from the route and this has had a major impact on local communities,” she explained.
Senator Dolan has been speaking with constituents who have had difficulty in attending medical appointments and college as a result of the lack of transport services. “One of the goals of Connecting Ireland was connecting medical and educational establishments. In addition, we need to provide access to businesses to help boost local economies, while also offering affordable travel options for people who do not drive. Social inclusion and access to community services have never been so important and I will continue to be a strong voice for the West and its people,” she added.
