24 bus to return to Beneavin Road after community campaign

The 24 bus will begin serving Beneavin Road from August 23, restoring a direct bus link to the area for the first time since the former No. 9 route was withdrawn under the BusConnects redesign.

The move follows months of campaigning by the Finglas Bus Action Group, which was established after residents raised concerns over the impact the network changes were having on communities across Finglas.

One of the group’s main demands was the return of a bus service to Beneavin Road, with campaigners arguing that the loss of the No. 9 had left residents, three nursing homes and a local school without a direct public transport service.

Welcoming confirmation that the 24 will now serve the road, People Before Profit councillor Conor Reddy said the decision showed what could be achieved through community action.

“The return of a bus service to Beneavin Road is an important victory for the people who organised, petitioned, protested and refused to allow their community to be left behind,” he said.

“These changes have come about because residents came together as the Finglas Bus Action Group to defend and improve public transport in our community.”

Cllr Reddy said restoring a bus service to Beneavin Road had been one of a number of priorities identified by the group following the BusConnects changes.

He said progress had also been made in improving links between Finglas East and Dublin city centre after the 23 and 24 were rerouted along the quays.

The councillor added that he had been told during a recent National Transport Authority briefing for public representatives that additional drivers would be assigned to the F-Spine routes from the autumn in an effort to improve reliability.

“I hope the additional drivers will result in a significant improvement in reliability, but residents have heard promises before,” he said.

“I will continue to monitor the service and keep the pressure on until people in Finglas have the reliable and accessible public transport they deserve.”

He said the campaign would continue until the remaining transport issues identified by residents had been addressed.

“This victory is a testament to the power we have as a community when we stand together,” he said.

“It is also a blueprint for how we can win the other services, facilities and investment that Finglas badly needs.”