NTA decision on Clare Bus services must be reversed – Ní Riada

Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada has said that the NTA must reverse it decision to award the TCU contract for Clare Bus to Limerick Local Link as opposed to Clare Accessible Transport.

She said that she will be writing to the NTA to urge them to make the reversal.

Ms Ní Riada made the remarks following a meeting with representatives of CAT in Ennis on Friday.

The Ireland South MEP said;

“I am deeply concerned that the transfer of the management of the service to a location outside of Clare will have a negative impact on the excellent delivery provided by Clare Accessible Transport.

“The decision by the NTA means we are potentially looking at the loss of fifteen years of local experience in coordinating what is a highly successful and effective service. We are also faced with the undermining of the community ethos that has driven this excellence in delivery as well as the loss of the beneficial relationships that CAT has fostered and developed with other agencies such as Clare County Council.

“When you look at the track record of Clare Accessible Transport, when you look at their achievements and when you hear of their commitment to continuously improve the service, the decision made the NTA looks even more bizarre. In a real community effort, CAT has also raised and spent a considerable amount of money on accessible buses.

Frankly, it seems like an attack on the ethos that delivers quality rural transport services. It is obvious to me that retaining the TCU in Clare makes absolute sense.

Ms Ní Riada also said she understood the fears that jobs could be lost as result of the change.

“The representatives of CAT who meet with on Friday told me of their fears particularly for eight jobs based in the Feakle office in the long term. These fears are quite understandable given the significance of the change.

“The NTA has made a bad decision. It must now listen to anger within the community and take steps to make a good one for the people of Clare.”