Funding shortfall leaves village cut off from Local Link service - Donegal Daily

Residents of Glen village have been left without a public transport connection as a planned Local Link service remains stalled over a lack of NTA funding.The vi...

Residents of Glen village have been left without a public transport connection as a planned Local Link service remains stalled over a lack of NTA funding.

The village previously had a limited connection to Letterkenny and Downings on the 974 route operated by Patrick Gallagher.

Following discussions between the operator, the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Local Link, it was agreed that Local Link would provide a dedicated service connecting Glen, allowing the 974 operator to provide additional services on the Downings–Letterkenny route.

Following changes to the timetable on the 974 route, there is now serious concern that the village has been left without any public transport service while the replacement Local Link remains unfunded.

Councillor Declan Meehan says that a transport plan is now in place for the Glen Local Link service, and an operator is available to provide it.

However, the NTA has advised that it currently does not have the funding required to commence the service.

Cllr. Meehan said: “This is completely unacceptable for the people of Glen. Until this summer, the village had a public transport connection, albeit a limited one. Now, as a result of changes to the 974 timetable, Glen has been left with no public transport link whatsoever.

“The transport plan is in place, an operator is available, and the community is ready for the service to begin. It is simply not acceptable that Glen should be left without a public transport connection because the necessary funding has not been made available.

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“I am calling on the NTA to urgently resolve the funding issue and ensure that the planned Local Link service for Glen can commence without further delay. Rural communities should not be left behind when public transport services are being restructured.”