‘New G Spine BusConnects routes are utterly failing local needs,’ says Councillor

New G Spine BusConnects routes are utterly failing local needs, according to People Before Profit Councillor for Ballyfermot-Drimnagh, Hazel De Nortúin.

The BusConnects routes G1, G2 and 60 were to replace the service provided by the 79, 79A and 40 – running from Clondalkin and Liffey Valley, serving Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot, Inchicore and on to the city centre.

“But locals have been reporting many problems since the changeover to the new service, with major delays and cancellations.

Cllr De Nortúin said: “These new routes are causing major issues for local residents travelling in both directions.

“People are telling us of buses slowed to a crawl during peak times because of bottlenecks on the new routes. Buses aren’t arriving at stops on time.

“The real time information is just not working. Now when people set out to travel on the bus here they have no idea how long their journey will take or if the bus will even arrive at the stop.”

And there are also issues with the new routes in relation to accessibility. “The disdain we’ve seen from the National Transport Authority (NTA) for those with mobility issues is disgraceful” Cllr De Nortúin said.

“With the bus service we had before, Lower Ballyfermot was served directly and often. But now there is only one bus each hour running on Decies Road, the 60.

“This bus is often delayed and it has even been cancelled at times because of lack of staff. Elderly residents and those with mobility issues can’t get up to the shops; they can’t get to mass; they are being left completely isolated. This is not acceptable.

“The NTA needs to listen to the feedback coming from locals. There has to be a bus running at least every half hour on Decies Rd. There also needs to be a direct route into the city centre, to avoid bottlenecks.”