Kentstown community calling for bus service to Navan
Residents of Kentstown have called for a bus service between the village and Navan, pointing out the dire need for the service for both young and old.
The National Transport Authority has told Deputy Peadar Tóibín there is no public funding available to provide a regular bus service from Kentstown to Navan.
One local woman spoke of how badly a bus service is needed.
"There is no public transport at all. We have a lot of young people living here as well as elderly people.
"If you want to go to Navan and you haven't a car, you have to rely on lifts or taxis which are very expensive.
"There is no connection to commuter services in Navan. A bus link would take a lot of commuters off the road," she said.
Deputy Tóibín contacted the National Transport Authority on behalf of residents from the Kentstown community who highlighted to him the ongoing need for a frequent bus service between the village and main county town.
“Residents from the Kentstown community have made a strong case for a public form of transportation to Navan for basic needs such as work, shopping and various appointments.
"They estimate about 70 people from Kentstown are in need of public transport to Navan for work purposes. This doesn’t include the numbers of elderly and younger people who struggle to get to Navan to meet with friends, socialise or attend part-time jobs where there is a lack of a regular service.
“I have been in contact with the National Transport Authority to raise this issue and been informed that while there is an aim to provide a more frequent, all day service between Kentstown and Navan there is no funding allocation for 2021 for the introduction of new or improved services.
"The NTA tells me they have no indication as to whether this will change and therefore have no plans to implement services in the area in the short term”.
Deputy Tóibín continued “Here we have yet another example of the Government talking about public transport but not providing it.
"We in Aontú will keep the pressure on to make sure this imbalance is addressed so that villages like Kentstown have proper infrastructure and basic services for the people of their community”.