A MORE THAN five fold increase in users of the TFI Local Link Bus passengers has been recorded in the space of two years.
105,986 passenger journeys were recorded on TFI Local Link services on the week ending October 13th 2024 which represents a more than five fold increase compared to January 2022 when passenger numbers were at 19,982.
Of the 105,986 a total of 5,125 passengers are in Co Clare. The figures relate to Regular Rural Services (RRS). These are scheduled services operating along a fixed route according to a published timetable.
Some Local Link Offices also operate Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) services, where vehicles alter routes for each journey, responding to particular transport demand without using a fixed route or timetabled journeys. These vehicles typically pick up and drop off passengers in locations according to passengers’ particular needs. Passenger numbers for DRT services are not included in the figures.
There are 15 Local Link Offices around the country providing local transport services, primarily for rural communities. Each Local Link Office provides services across one or more county, and all are funded by the National Transport Agency (NTA).
Senator Roisin Garvey (GP) welcomed the rise in bus users in the county. “Having worked hard on securing funding for new and improved local links it is great to see people availing of this amazing and cheap service especially a lot more young people. There is still more to do but I am delighted with the progress to date”.
She said the figures rising was a “dramatic increase” and “coincides with the increased funding for same by Minister Eamon Ryan and the subsequent rollout of the NTA’s Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, from January 2022. Since then, over 110 new and enhanced TFI Local Link routes have been introduced under the plan, covering every county”.
Inagh native Garvey continued, “In Clare alone, passenger numbers have increased by 500% since 2022. This increase is driven by the introduction or enhancement of many key routes. These include the C12 Ennis to Miltown Malbay service which went from a two day a week to a six day a week service at the start of this year and new bus services to places like Quin, Ballyvaughan and Kilkishen that haven’t had a bus service for decades”.
