Fine Gael Kildare South TD Martin Heydon has this week welcomed the confirmation of funding for new public service bus routes to service South Kildare from Minister for Transport Pascal Donohoe. This follows a concerted campaign by local residents, councillors from the Athy Municipal District, supported by Kildare South Oireachtas members.
“The loss of bus routes from Castledermot, along the old N9 and Athy earlier this year caused consternation among many residents in the mainly rural areas who had relied on these buses. Concerned communities formed an action group which has been instrumental in arriving at this solution in conjunction with local politicians working together.
“The Minister, in conjunction with the National Transport Authority has now agreed to fund a state subsidised route between Naas and Carlow serving Kilcullen and Castledermot that will have specific stops at Crookstown and Kilgowan as well Ballitore, Moone, and Timolin. It will also serve Naas hospital and operate three times a day each way.
“The time table of the routes (set out below) have been coordinated to link up with follow on national services in both Naas and Carlow as well as being particularly useful for those attending Carlow IT. The routes are currently being tendered for with a start date by the end of July being envisaged.
“It has also been agreed, following a meeting with Social Protection Minister Joan Burton that the free travel pass will be accepted on the new routes. The new routes will be trialed until the end of the year with the warning from the NTA to the local communities ‘Use it or lose it’.”