Southside TDs criticise cuts to bus services

Southside TDs have criticised cuts to bus services.

This week, it was announced that despite popular demand, the Airport Hopper bus services between Maynooth and Tallaght and Dublin Airport will cease operations.

Dublin Mid-West TD Mark Ward said, “it came as a shock to many people in my constituency of Dublin Mid-West and the wider Dublin area that the airport hopper service was no longer operating.”

“The Airport Hopper was the most economical way for people in Dublin to get to the airport. People in Clondalkin, Lucan and Tallaght will be impacted by this decision and left with no dedicated service to the airport from these areas,” he said.

A previous €10 trip from Clondalkin to the airport will now cost €40 to €60 for a taxi, Ward said.

“Previous governments have failed to provide adequate transport services to Dublin Airport.  An intervention will be needed from government on the airport hopper or they will be starting out on the same note,” he said.

“In the absence of services, or where ones like Airport Hopper cease to operate, the people of Dublin need a solution. That solution is publicly run services that operate in all parts of Dublin”

Ward stated he has written to Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien on the issue and will be meeting with the NTA next month.

Dublin South-West TD Ciarán Ahern has called on the NTA to replace the routes to Dublin Airport.

Ahern, who was recently named as Labour’s transport and climate spokesperson, said Labour’s transport and climate spokesperson the axing of services are “extremely disappointing.”

“This will mean more people are forced back into their cars when travelling to the airport, a retrograde step if we are serious about reducing our transport emissions.”

“We need to be encouraging people to use more sustainable forms of transport, but if the services aren’t there, what options are people left with?”

“Ultimately, the decision to cancel these vital routes is because their bottom line hasn’t been met. Like any other private business, Aircoach are motivated by profit, not public service,” he remarked.

Ahern said the affair underpins how important it is for the Metrolink to be built. 

“We are one of the only major European capitals that doesn’t have an airport Metro line, and it’s frankly a joke given how long it has been on the table that the sod still hasn’t been turned on it. “The government must get serious on Metrolink, and the feasibility study for extending the project to Metro South-West should be expedited,” he said, referring to the Programme For Government mentioning a possible commission of an independent feasibility study about expanding the Metrolink to South-West Dublin.