Taoiseach to raise issue of limited bus services in this Kildare town

An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin has said he will speak to the Minister for Transport regarding the 115 bus service in Kildare, and a possible role for Dublin Bus in Kilcock.

The Taoiseach's commitment follows a recent contribution in the Dáil by Kildare North TD, Naoise Ó Cearúil.

Speaking in the Dáil on May 13 last, Deputy Ó Cearúil told the Taoiseach that Kilcock in Co Kildare “is the fastest-growing town in the county and one of the fastest-growing towns in the country.”

While the news that the DART+ West will be extended to Kilcock was greatly welcomed, he said, the only bus service at the moment is the Bus Éireann 115 service.

He said: “There have been many issues with it. Previously, Dublin Bus went to Maynooth. I am trying to get across the need for Dublin Bus to be extended to Kilcock. It is a wider issue for the commuter belt in Dublin, particularly those areas that are growing exponentially, and the need for additional bus capacity, particularly in light of people reducing the number of cars at home and how we are relying more on public transport.

“Dublin Bus has a bigger role to play here. I have met the NTA and Dublin Bus about this. I ask how the NTA and Dublin Bus are working together to deliver public transport for the commuter belt, Dublin in particular, and obviously Kildare and Meath.”

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Responding to Deputy Ó Cearúil, the Taoiseach said: “I thank the Deputy for raising this and for his strong advocacy for the fastest-growing town in Kildare and the country. Kildare is growing apace.

“I will talk to the Minister about the 115 bus service and the role for Dublin Bus more broadly with regard to extending its remit, and of course the NTA, which oversees the whole route development programme.”