The Local Link Laois Offaly bus service has transported 50,000 passengers around Laois and Offaly up to September of this year.
“At Local Link Laois Offaly, our principle objective under the remit of the rural transport programme is to provide a quality nationwide community based public transport system, where no other public transport exists,” explained Frances Byrne, manager of Laois Offaly Local Link
They are funded by the National Transport Authority and are one of the 17 nation-wide Local Link offices who coordinate this programme.
“We serve the back roads of the counties and provide a vital service for the people of Laois and Offaly,” she said.
“We provide transport for people to do their shopping, get to their doctor’s appointment and just to get out and about,” Ms Byrne added.
Rebrand
In 2014, Laois TRIP, West and South Offaly Rural Transport and North Offaly services were amalgamated under the rebrand of Local Link Laois Offaly under the National Transport Authority.
“With this move the programme has grown in strength and funding,” Ms Byrne said.
Their success was marked at a ‘Good News Event’ hosted by them in the Mountmellick Development Association (MDA) on Thursday.
“We are here today to highlight the growth in Local Link Laois Offaly and mark our milestone of 50,000 passengers in 2017.
“From 2014 our services have grown across the two counties, we now have over 100 services a week with just under 300 trips operated across the week on fixed and flexible schedules.
“We have a growing base of registered operators on the programme and through re-tendering in 2017 we have welcomed new operators into the family of Laois Offaly,” Ms Byrne said.
These services are open for everyone to use, she added, and the free travel pass is accepted.
Value
“Our core value is to give independence back to rural Ireland, and transport is an essential part of this.
“Many of our rural transport services are specifically designed to enable people to get to and from their places of work, to attend school/college, HSE appointments and to provide access to our passengers to their local towns for shopping and social events and break down social exclusion,” Ms Byrne said.
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