Local Link services praised at Kildare County Council meeting

Local Link bus services within the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District (MD) have been praised by councillors.

The appreciative comments for the service were heard at the latest MD meeting, which took place on Friday, November 3 last.

At the meeting, Social Democrats Cllr Aidan Farrelly put forward the following motion to Kildare County Council (KCC): "That the council convene a meeting between members and the Transport for Ireland Local Link Kildare South Dublin service to discuss current service provision throughout the MD, and possible future service developments."

His motion was seconded by Fine Gael Cllr Brendan Wyse.

In response to Cllr Farrelly’s motion, KCC said in its report at the meeting that, with the members’ agreement, the council would write to Transport for Ireland Local Link regarding Cllr Farrelly’s request.

Following this, Cllr Farrelly told those present: "When it comes to Local Link services, we probably don’t know enough about them, and we want to inform ourselves.

"If we could even have a one-hour virtual meeting with the providers of the Local Link service, for example, that could be great," he added.

Cllr Wyse also commented: "It’s a great motion... Cllr Farrelly is right, I think that the Local Link are doing their best here, and we should be working with them."

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Further support for Cllr Farrelly’s motion was shown by councillors Peter Hamilton of the Green Party and Independent Pádraig McEvoy, with the latter pointing to the rerouting of the Local Link service between Naas and Athy.

"I know it’s not in our MD, but it has helped to reduce around 200 cars from going into Naas daily as a result," Cllr McEvoy said: "It would be interesting to see the capacities throughout the day for this service’s route."

Marian Higgins, KCC’s official Director of Services - Climate, Community, Environment & Water, also expressed her support for Cllr Farrelly’s motion.

She said: "Local Link provide a really great service out there, and I would welcome any conversation with them."

Ms Higgins also said that the MD would need to be aware of their Climate Action goals with regards to this motion, adding: "there needs to be a change in people’s behaviour (regarding public transport) involved here."

After the matter was put to a decision, the councillors present agreed to convene the meeting suggested by Cllr Farrelly.
KCC will now write to Local Link regarding Cllr Farrelly’s request.