Bus fares price drop boost for commuters

Meath commuters can expect a substantial reduction in bus fares as a new price structure is announced later this month.

Ashbourne and Ratoath commuters will be included in the Dublin fare zone along with Dunboyne which is already in that category, while Navan, Slane, Laytown and Bettystown will be in the new commuter zone.

Deputy Gillian Toole said the new fares structure with details of pricing will be announced later in the month and welcomed the reduced fares it will mean for Meath's commuters.

Deputy Toole was told of the fare reductions at a meeting she had organised for Meath East councillors with Bus Éireann which was attended by Cllrs Nick Killian, Yvonne Everard and Joe Bonner.

She is now planning to organise a similar meeting with the National Transport Authority as some of the issues raised at the meeting are in the NTA's remit and not Bus Éireann's.

"One of the big issues for Bus Éireann has been the lack of mechanics and we have been told that they were seeking to recruit 30 and have so far managed to hire 27.

"Traffic is another big problem, if traffic is very heavy or there are road works, it causes delays.

"One of the issues raised was the new bus stop at Ratoath which was to have been an off-lane stop, but Meath County Council ruled it should be an in-lane stop

"This means that the bus will hold up traffic when it stops. This is very shortsighted," she said.

Cllr Nick Killian who welcomed the new fare structure said it was one of the better meeting they had with Bus Éireann."The new fares could mean a reduction of up to 25 per cent on daily fares.

"We raised the issue of the 103X bus and asked that they increase the numbers morning and evening from three to six.

"We had a long discussion about the provision of additional bus stops and we got a commitment to make the bus stop in Ratoath village accessible for people with disabilities," he said.

Cllr Yvonnne Everard also welcomed the new fare structures.

"We raised the need for proper tap and go machines as people do not carry cash anymore and they agreed to look into that. We were also told that they would be replacing two bus stops that were removed from the Fairyhouse Road recently. A lot of elderly people had used those bus stops.

"We also raised the issue of the bus stop outside Supervalu, Ratoath which is in a terrible state, it is in the worst condition I have ever seen."

Cllr Everard raised the need for a new bus route to DCU. "A lot of young people in this area travel to DCU every day. It is about a 30 minute drive away but at the moment the bus tours around the country, taking in the airport and it can take two hours to get from Dunshaughlin to DCU.

Cllr Joe Bonner welcomed the better fare structures but said there was a major issue with the 103 bus not turning up and he warned the situation for commuters will only get worse with the many new houses coming onstream.

"There is an issue with the 103 since the route was changed. It used to bring passengers close the Mater, Mater Private and Temple Street Hospitals and a number of schools, but the new route takes it away from that area entirely," he said.