Extension of town bus service could help resolve school transport issues

Efforts to extend the Navan Town bus service to a wider hinterland to provide a solution to school transport problems will be made by Meath County Council.

Following a proposal by the Mayor of Navan, Cllr Eddie Fennessy, at last week's meeting of the Navan Municipal Council, councillors will write to the National Transport Authority (NTA) looking for the routes to be extended.

Cllr Fennessy called on the council, Bus Eireann and the NTA to extend the local bus service by creating an orbital route that connects Robinstown, Dunderry, Boyerstown, Bohermeen, Gibbstown, Simonstown, Kentstown, Tara and Bective with Navan Town Centre, to improve connectivity between the rural parts of the Navan Municipal District and the centre of the town.

"This motion was prompted by conversations I had with rural families who are looking for solutions to the lack of school transport services in their communities and the most obvious solution to me is an expansion of the local bus service," he said.

"I'm a regular user of the service and I've watched it grow over the past two years. Its convenience for school transport is evident by the number of children availing of the service every day.

"It is an excellent service and perfectly designed to meet the needs of urban families looking to access school transport for their children. Expanding the service, to improve connectivity and provide school transport options to rural communities makes perfect sense."

Cllr Fennessy said an extension would have a number of positive knock-on effects in Navan. "There'd be an easing of congestion and illegal parking problems around school gates, fewer traffic jams at junctions across the town, increased footfall accessing business and service options in Navan and most importantly, a reduction in our carbon footprint.

He was told all requests for new bus routes/services in locations in County Meath should be directed to the National Transport Authority.

Cllr Tommy Reilly seconded the motion, saying it was something he had been looking for, for a long time.

It was agreed the councillors would write as a group to the NTA calling for the extension. Cllr Fennessy said he would lobby the NTA directly to encourage an expansion of the service.

Meanwhile, Cllr Francis Deane called on the council to write to Bus Eireann requesting a bus stop on the bus route to Kells at R147 Newgate junction.

Cllr Deane said there is no official stop there and it was at the discretion of the driver, whether they stop or not.

He was told the NTA was responsible for bus stops, bus shelters, bus stations, stands and bus fleets but the Council's Transportation Department understands that the NTA is currently reviewing the potential for adding new bus stops at this location.

It was agreed councillors would also write to the NT as a group on this issue.