New Local Link Nightime Buses Needed For Laois Town

Fine Gael Councillor Vivienne Phelan is calling for a new Local Link night bus service to connect Stradbally and Portlaoise.

New nighttime buses are needed for Laois Town.

That's according to Fine Gael Councillor Vivienne Phelan, who's calling for a new Local Link night bus service to connect Stradbally and Portlaoise.

At this month's meeting for Graiguecullen/Portarlington Municipal District the Leas Cathaoirleach put forward the motion in response to residents in touch with her, particularly younger people, trying to get to Portlaoise from Stradbally in the evenings.

She says "There's very, limited transportation options and I really think if we're serious about sustainable transportation, we need resource more Local Link bus routes and allow people to get around in an accessible, safe, affordable manner and to make public transportation the norm rather than the exception."

 Cllr Phelan says the National Transport Authority have not added to the existing services since August last year:

She believes, transportation is particularly an important issue in rural Ireland and wants to ensure that we're continuing to fight for it.

She says, "We have a number of new housing estates just nearing completion now. 200 new units are almost completed in Stradbally so it's a really good time to examine what infrastructure we have available here and it's important that transportation is available for everybody in the community, regardless of their age group or accessibility requirements."

Cllr Phelan is hoping to expand upon the availability of the service in key areas to link towns and ensure that connectivity.

Cllr Aidan Mullins agreed and encouraged members to put pressure on our three local TDs who he says should apply pressure on the National Transport Authority to look at the issue.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.