Students demanding full restoration of bus link to DCU

Bus Éireann scaled back service during peak of the pandemic

Meath students of Dublin City University are calling on the 109A bus service to resume its pre-pandemic service to the north Dublin college.

The call comes as Bus Éireann has confirmed that there will be just two dedicated services to DCU each morning and evening from yesterday (Monday).

“Before Covid, there were buses to DCU every 20 minutes or so throughout the day, during term time,” said Christine O'Mahony, a Masters student in DCU.

“There are a lot of DCU students in Meath that rely on these buses, especially now when there is such a student's accommodation crisis in Dublin,” she said.

Christine, who lives in Balrath, explains that for her, there was never a direct service.

“My parents used to drive me to Ashbourne, where I got the 109A to DCU.

“The college reverted to online lectures during the pandemic and the services was cancelled.

“Now people are back at college and the service needs to be restored.”

Christine said that the bus only brings her to Finglas, where she has to get a Dublin bus.

“The journey now takes an hour and twenty minutes and costs almost €12 per day.”

Christine said that as a masters student, her classes are between 4pm and 8pm, so the current timetable doesn't suit her.

“I could take the morning bus and be there several hours early, but there is no bus home,” she said.

Deputy Darren O'Rourke, has called on Bus Éireann to restore the 109A to DCU to full service in order to accommodate the large number of students from Meath who rely on it.

He said a lot of students had expressed concern to him about the limited service now available.

"Government talk the talk on public transport but when it comes to delivery, it's the opposite.

“We have a Green Minister supported by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael actually reducing public bus services.

“I have raised the 109A with the NTA, Bus Éireann and the Minister. It's simply not good enough. The full service needs to be reinstated.”

Deputy O'Rourke called on Minister Eamon Ryan in the Dail to outline how he would support school and college-goers to leave the car at home and get public transport.

“It is no coincidence that he spent his time talking about walking and cycling and avoided talking about public bus services," said Deputy O'Rourke.

A spokesperson for Bus Éireann said the company operates the 109A Kells/Dublin Airport commuter route under a Public Service Contract to the National Transport Authority (NTA).

From yesterday, Monday 27th September, Route 109A will operate two dedicated college term only services from Navan and Trim direct to DCU to cater for students returning to college.

“Students wishing to use the return service direct from DCU to Navan and Trim should note that it departs from DCU at 17.15,” she said.

“Customers using the 109A can make public transport connections at Dublin Airport for onward journeys to various locations in North Dublin.

The first direct service to DCU leaves Navan at 7.25 am, while the second leaves Trim at 7.30am.

The Navan routes serves Johnstown and Garlow Cross, while the Trim route serves, Dunshaughlin, Ratoath, Ballybin Road, Ashbourne and Ninemilestone.