MUNGRET, Ballybrown and Clarina and could soon be benefitting from an improved public bus service.
This follows a motion from Fine Gael councillor Dan McSweeney at a recent meeting of the Limerick City and County Council’s Travel and Transportation Strategic Policy Committee where he asked the council to engage with the National Transport Authority (NTA) to secure improved bus services for the area.
The City West representative was informed that the local authority is actively engaging with the NTA in the development of the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy.
“Baseline studies and projected growth for population centres in Ballybrown, Clarina and Patrickswell will form the basis for consultation between Bus Éireann and NTA for appropriate bus services to meet the demand,” a Council spokesperson explained.
Cllr McSweeney told the committee that there are currently four services connecting Clarina to Limerick City Monday to Friday from 8am to 5.15pm. The service is reduced to two times a day on Saturdays and one on Sundays.
“Upon your return from Limerick City you have four bus services commencing at 1.35pm with last service at 5.40pm and similarly these services reduce to two on a Saturday and one on a Sunday.
“One of the major issues surrounding the return bus route is timing. Many students travelling to secondary schools, completing after school study and those working in Limerick City centre are unable to use public transport due to there being no later bus service,” Cllr McSweeney explained.
He also pointed out that Mungret has been promised an extended bus service for a number of years and is still waiting for it.
“Mungret has grown significantly over the last number of years with additional housing and new schools and these public transport plans have still not materialised. The improvement of the Clarina bus service will be able to work hand in hand with the provision of improved bus services for Mungret,” he concluded.
