Active Retirement Ireland Insists Government Protect Rural Bus Routes
Active Retirement Ireland, the country’s largest community-based older people’s organisation has today, 23rd February, called on Government intervention to protect the Bus Éireann Services which are to cease. In a move the organisation calls “another assault on rural Ireland” Bus Éireann has cut almost 100 services, leaving many towns with no public transport options. Peter Kavanagh, ARI spokesman, said: “Many of our Active Retirement groups rely wholly on public transport in rural areas. These meetings play a vital role to keep people socially connected and to combat loneliness and isolation. The Government must act to protect the most vulnerable people in rural Ireland including those whose income may be too low to afford alternative forms of transport. An even more serious concern is access to medical services if there is not adequate public transport. We understand that some routes and services are not profitable for Bus Éireann, but the Government needs to realise that if increased loneliness and isolation leads to more older people needing long-term residential care, then the cost to state will be far higher in the long run”.
According to Bus Éireann seven towns will have no direct service to Dublin including Ballyporeen, Clogheen, Ardfinnan, Muine Bheag, Castlecomer, Crettyyard and Ballylinan Cross.
