Allowing Bus Éireann to close a number of its intercity routes in the coming months will leave the leader of the Green Party and the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan red-faced, according to independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice.
Fitzmaurice was reacting to the announcement from Bus Éireann yesterday (Monday, September 28) that its Expressway services between Dublin and Cork, Dublin and Galway and Dublin and Limerick are to cease, and that the Dublin to Belfast service is to be suspended indefinitely.
The Roscommon-Galway representative said: “This is evolving into a laughable situation.
“Minister Ryan and his party have preached time and time again when it comes to the importance of expanding public transport routes.
“And yet, it seems as if these expressway services will cease with Ryan at the wheel in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
“Despite this being classed as a commercial decision, and the redirecting of services and personnel to other areas, many people depend on these expressway services for travelling to work, college or medical appointments,” the TD said, claiming:
And this will happen at a time when the Green Party is pushing to cripple those living in rural areas with carbon tax increases.
“These people have little or no options but to get in their car if they have to commute to work, due to the lack of public transport in rural areas,” Fitzmaurice concluded.