Calls for better South Roscommon Local Link bus service

Villages and townlands in South Roscommon are the "poor relation" in terms of the Local Link public transport service, elected members claimed at the February meeting of Roscommon County Council.

Representatives from the council's Athlone Municipal District expressed their dissatisfaction that the strong transport links operated by the service in the north of the county are not replicated in South Roscommon.

The members were responding to a presentation on the current status of the service in the Council Chamber from Damien O'Neill, Head of Local Link in the Longford/Roscommon/Westmeath division.

While elected members from Boyle and Roscommon Municipal Districts commended the service being provided in their respective regions, Councillors from the Athlone Municipal District called for the extension of the public transport network within their rural areas.

Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr John Keogh complimented the continued growth of the service into rural areas within the county, but said it was necessary to expand the service into South Roscommon as a matter of urgency.

"It is great to see Local Link transport links being rolled out to certain parts of the county, but realistically we are the poor relation in South Roscommon when it comes to the provision of the service. Rural areas such as Taughmaconnell and Curraghboy have no public bus service. These are well populated areas and need such a service. Taughmaconnell is actually the largest parish in the diocese of Clonfert," Cllr Keogh said.

Cllr Keogh acknowledged that the Local Link service travelled from Athlone to Clonown but added that it still "wasn't enough" for those who require public transport in the region.

"I am not trying to take from the progress which Local Link has made in the county, but there is a great need to cater for our rural communities in South Roscommon," Cllr Keogh said.

Cllr Valerie Duffy described the service as "transformational" from a "social inclusion viewpoint", but stressed the need for Local Link to look at providing links in the rural areas of South Roscommon.

She also called for the extension of the service from Roscommon train station to TUS Midlands in Athlone to "accommodate students who have to make this journey".

Cllr Emer Kelly said there was a need to deliver a "more robust bus service" in the rural areas in the south of the county.

"The catchment radius is expansive and if there was a service it definitely would be used. There are strategic areas in South Roscommon where bus links could be developed and this, in turn, would help to support the local business communities," Cllr Kelly said.

The Dysart based councillor also called on Local Link to explore the possibility of providing a public transport service between Portiuncula University Hospital and Roscommon University Hospital.

While the extension of the Athlone town bus service to Bealnamulla was a "positive", Cllr Tony Ward said there were a "lot of people" living in South Roscommon who were "still cut from access to a bus service".

Cllr Laurence Fallon commended the success of the public transport initiative in the north of the county and noted that if such a service was provided in South Roscommon "it would definitely work in the rural communities".

"Services in South Roscommon villages have started to diminish. What needs to happen for the people of South Roscommon to get a bus service and what are the costs involved?," Cllr Fallon queried.

In response, the Local Link spokesperson said the service, which is managed by the National Transport Authority (NTA), required a "central mass" of people within a certain area to make a service worthwhile.

"We will bring this information back to the NTA but there are no immediate plans to implement Local Link transport routes in South Roscommon as there are no funds available for 2026.

"However, we are always 'fighting the good fight' to provide services where they are needed most and hopefully, with your support, funding for the extension of Local Link into the south of the county might be made available in time," Mr O'Neill said.