Ministers Donohoe and Phelan welcome NTA plan to deal with changes to Expressway Route No.7

24th June, 2015

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe TD, and the Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Rural Transport, Ann Phelan TD, have today (Wednesday) welcomed plans from the National Transport Authority (NTA) to deal with recently announced changes to the Bus Éireann Expressway Route Number 7. The NTA report entitled ‘Review of Curtailment of Licensed Services from Waterford and Cork via Clonmel to Dublin’ outlines additional and reconfigured services being put in place by the Authority to ensure connectivity to Dublin for the people affected by the changes.

Minister Donohoe said: ‘I welcome the work carried out by the NTA in seeking to address the transportation needs of those impacted by the proposed changes to Bus Éireann’s Route Number 7. By introducing new services and procuring additional ones continuity of service will be secured for the locations affected. Despite the fact that resources are limited, I propose to provide funding this year to the NTA for  these new and reconfigured services, in recognition of the importance of providing services to rural towns and villages’.

Minister Phelan said: ‘The changes to the Number 7 had understandably been the cause of considerable local concern. I am happy that the new service plan compiled by the NTA will meet the needs of local communities. Some alternative services are due to be operational by this Sunday (28th June), with temporary arrangements having been put in place to provide services pending the completion of the procurement process. I thank everyone involved for the work they have done to find a solution for this route, and in recent months in respect of Bus Éireann’s Route Number 5’.

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