Senator Aisling Dolan - Strong Voice, New Vision.
The county has been left behind in the funding race and a dramatic increase in Local Link routes is needed all across Roscommon, according to Senator Dolan
Fine Gael General Election Candidate for the Roscommon-Galway constituency, Senator Aisling Dolan, is demanding major improvements in public transport services for Roscommon town and county. Connectivity to Roscommon University Hospital, in particular, is a massive issue and she believes Roscommon has been forgotten about in the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan.
“It is absolutely shocking that our county town is not being well served and there are no proper transport services to Roscommon University Hospital. Roscommon has been left behind when it comes to funding for Local Link services. I am calling for a major overhaul in Local Link routes across Roscommon town and county, including the provision of transport links to the hospital,” said Senator Dolan.
At present, there are a number of Local Link routes in the county – the 426 from Longford to Roscommon Town and the 570 from Boyle to Roscommon – but the hospital is still not serviced. There are also many areas in South Roscommon that are not served by daily public transport at all.
“We need more frequent services on the Athlone to Roscommon road for people living in Knockcroghery, Lecarrow and Kiltoom, and for areas like Dysart, Four Roads and Taughmaconnell. How are people expected to get to the hospital for appointments, not to mention just to do their weekly shopping, if they are not able to drive?” questioned Senator Dolan.
“The 426 needs to be immediately redirected to include a stop at the hospital, and we also need to ensure connectivity between the train station and hospital. Outside the town, we need to develop a county-wide plan, providing much-needed connectivity and accessibility for people living all over the county. It is clear that we need a Government TD for this area and, if elected, I will prioritise the provision of better bus service across our towns and villages,” she assured.
Another factor in the poor transport links, according to Senator Dolan, is the need for additional bus stops across Roscommon. “I am calling on the National Transport Authority’s bus stop team to prioritise the upgrading of the existing bus stops and the provision of additional stops across our towns and villages. This must be accelerated and we need to work hand-in-hand with Roscommon County Council to assure rapid approval for the bus stops requested,” she added.
