Liadh calls for communities to unite in defence of X-7 bus route

Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada has said the Transport Minister’s failure to engage with all stakeholders in the Bus Éireann dispute is costing the public vital services.

The Ireland South MEP made the comments as she urged people to attend a public meeting on the proposed cancellation of the Clonmel to Dublin bus route being hosted by Carlow-Kilkenny TD Kathleen Funchion.

“The Minister’s head-in-the-sand approach to this dispute is now set to cost commuters vital services.

“As well as Monday’s impending strike we have been told that, among other routes, the X7 Clonmel to Dublin will cease from March 12^th with further cuts to come.

“The public is losing vital transport services and the Transport Minister does not believe this is part of his brief.

““Hundreds of thousands of people across Ireland depend on these services to get to school, college or work, to access health services, or to stay connected.

“There can be no doubt that cuts like these, especially if the continue in this vein, will lead to a huge increase in rural isolation, particularly among our older population.

“The Government has a duty to provide a public transport service and yet the Transport Minister is passing the buck on this fundamental issue.”

“Public transport should not be a profit driven business; it is a service that the government has a duty to provide, particularly given their utterly ineffectual approach to limiting the costs of thinks like rent and car insurance.

The Save the X7 Expressway Route public meeting takes place in the Droichead Centre in Callan on Thursday, March 9^th at 8pm.