Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The issue of one of quality. Following the tendering process, Clare Accessible Transport has lost the contract and the transport co-ordination unit will now be transferred to west Limerick. The National Transport Authority has responsibility in this regard but my question relates to quality. As a result of awarding the tender to a Limerick company, a very successful model will be broken up; it is demonstrated as one of the most efficient in the country, according to the NTA's report from 2018. The transfer of the co-ordination unit to Limerick will reduce the quality of the service as it was a bespoke service that operated six days per week. A person could book transport one hour in advance and the system was very flexible, allowing buses to go to people's homes to pick them up. The service is 100% disabled-accessible but we are concerned that the transfer of the unit from Clare to Limerick will reduce the quality of the service and interfere with its flexibility. It will not lead to the betterment of patients and people in County Clare.

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