Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome that consideration is being given to a BusConnects plan and to the development of the Limerick-Shannon area. However, I raised a current problem. While the plan is great and very welcome and everybody will be in favour of it, it does not resolve current problems. It is soul destroying for those who use the university and staff of companies in the area that they are constantly late for work. The round trip of 6 km that I made took one and a hour hours instead of less than one hour, as scheduled. The position is unsatisfactory and the commuters who use the route are very frustrated because they are constantly late travelling to and from work. I know someone who left the University of Limerick at 4.30 p.m. recently to give a lecture in the city centre at 6 p.m. and arrived 15 minutes late. While I acknowledge that traffic can be heavy sometimes, it is not an issue early in the mornings. It would be a start if commuters were informed and kept in the loop or even replied to properly.

The current position is very frustrating. A survey of bus users in 2018 found that satisfaction with bus services in Limerick, at 72%, was the lowest in the country. While it is welcome news that investment will be made in future, this issue needs to be dealt with now.