CONCERNS raised by the people of Goleen over the possible loss of their direct bus service to Cork have been alleviated by a spokesperson for the National Transport Authority.
Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins raised their concerns in the Dáil, last week, and called on the transport minister to ensure the survival of the service.
Deputy Collins said locals are thankful to have a new Cork Local Link bus service on the Mizen, but not if it comes at the expense of losing a Bus Éireann service that leaves the village at 7.50am and returns at 7pm.
The TD said he was ‘hoping and praying’ that his doubts, and the doubts of the people of Goleen, were unfounded because the service is ‘vital to the community’.
Local woman, Breda Buckley, said the route was first introduced on December 5th 1949, and it was such a cause of celebration that a song was written about it locally.
She said any threat to the future of the service would affect the elderly most of all, especially those travelling to the city for medical procedures and appointments.
‘To ask them to go to Skibbereen and wait for a connecting bus would be traumatic for people,’ she said.
Breda expressed her exasperation with the general level of closures in rural communities: ‘Rural services are being continuously eroded. When you think about Goleen, 20 years ago there was a resident garda, a resident doctor, there was a post office, a resident priest, and the bus service to Cork.
‘I don’t understand what the government is doing – it is only interested in Dublin. There doesn’t seem to be any consideration at all for people in areas like ours.
‘It is most elderly people who are affected – people who have contributed to the State all their lives with their services and taxes,’ she concluded.
A spokesperson for Bus Éireann said the company is ‘not currently aware of any plans to cancel this route in the future’ and that route number 237 would continue to operate as per its set timetable.
However, the spokesperson did point out that the route is part of its ‘Direct Award Contract with the National Transport Authority (NTA)’ and advised ‘contacting the NRA in this regard’.
The Bus Éireann spokesman said their contract with the NTA ‘sets out the level of service Bus Éireann provides; and the route, schedule, frequency, fleet and fares are determined by the NTA’.
Before going to press, a spokesperson for the NTA was able to confirm to The Southern Star: ‘The suggestion that the service is to be withdrawn is not correct.
‘We are looking to put in place minor amendments to Route 237 in April 2025, to address punctuality, reliability and integration issues,’ they added.
‘We still plan to continue to serve Goleen, albeit with minor amendments to commencement and arrival times.’
