Cavan-Monaghan TD, Pauline Tully, has expressed her concerns about the lack of commitment to increasing funding for Local Link services in Cavan.
Teachta Tully said:
“The Local Link service in Cavan has been an outstanding success in opening up access and connecting people across the county.
“However, there are still areas in the county that are not getting this service at all and other areas that need the service extended.
“I have had numerous queries that have come into my office regarding this, from different parts of Cavan, such as Ballyjamesduff, Bailieborough and Milltown.
“For instance, currently there is no local link service for students living in Ballyjamesduff and studying in Cavan Institute.
“While the Cavan-Monaghan Local Link manager has relayed to me his desire to enhance existing routes and create new routes he is at present unable to do so and will not be in a position to do so until the National Transport Authority increases their funding.
“The reply I received from the National Transport Authority to a parliamentary question I submitted was disappointingly vague.
“While it states that they ‘are working on a plan… which has the objective of improving accessibility by public transport between settlements across the country… [and] will be undertaking a public consultation on proposals… later this year’ is very welcome, it is not specify if, or what level of, funding will be made available.
“Sinn Féin make a very clear commitment in our Alternative Budget that we would invest an additional €4.4million in Local Link services funding in 2022.“Many parts of Cavan are without a service and this needs to be resolved.”
