Seanad debates

Wednesday, 16 December 2020

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

10:30 am

Photo of Garret AhearnGarret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This week, Bus Éireann announced a new bus route from Portroe, in north Tipperary, to Limerick, which is very much welcomed. It is the first time Bus Éireann has operated a bus route from Portroe to Limerick. In September, Bus Éireann also announced the discontinuation of the Cork-Dublin express route, which has major implications in County Tipperary, in particular in Cahir and Cashel. My colleague, Councillor Declan Burgess, has done a good deal of work to try to ascertain the facts behind the decision that was made because from our perspective, and certainly from the perspective of Councillor Burgess, this route is used extensively by students and people from the area but particularly by tourists coming into the country. When they travel from Cork to Dublin, they often stop off in Cahir and Cashel to visit the sites. The announcement was made in December that the route would be discontinued. That is commencing in January. I would appreciate an update from the Minister for Transport on the future plans with the express route. It is being discontinued temporarily. What are the future plans for it? When will it be brought back? Has analysis been done on the number of people who use the route? Has the benefit it gives to towns like Cahir and Cashel and other rural areas been acknowledged, as well as the impact its removal will have on them? I would appreciate the Minister for Transport coming into the House to make a statement on that.

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