Bus service plans offer hope amid traffic chaos - Donegal News

A DESPERATELY needed multi-million Euro new transport service has been outlined for Budget 2027 to slash high-profile traffic problems in the county’s largest town. The powerful Oireachtas Transport Committee of Dail Eireann was yesterday told in high-level talks that Letterkenny urgently needs a town bus service commitment from Finance Minister Simon Harris within weeks. The […]

A DESPERATELY needed multi-million Euro new transport service has been outlined for Budget 2027 to slash high-profile traffic problems in the county’s largest town.

The powerful Oireachtas Transport Committee of Dail Eireann was yesterday told in high-level talks that Letterkenny urgently needs a town bus service commitment from Finance Minister Simon Harris within weeks.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) insisted that a return of the service can no longer be delayed in the town, where businesses have described “traffic chaos”.

A new bus service for Letterkenny has been proposed for Budget 2027.

Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh told the Donegal News: “I am delighted that the NTA has confirmed it is proposing a town bus service for Letterkenny as part of the upcoming Budget.”

Emergency responses to traffic issues in Letterkenny were demanded this week at the robust first council meeting for the area since the summer.

Cllr Gerry McMonagle called for an urgent bus service meeting with the NTA and Cllr Tomás Seán Devine urged gardaí to hammer out a Garda traffic management plan for Christmas as soon as possible.

The bus boost announcement came within 24 hours of the councillors challenging council officials to bring a halt to a controversial €10m traffic management plan called Active Travel.

Their proposal did not lead to the immediate suspension of the works, which are for miles of cycle lanes, but which critics claim would be better used as dedicated bus and taxi lanes to alleviate congestion blackspots.

Cllr Ciaran Brogan, who proposed the Active Travel suspension, expressed concerns that Letterkenny is attracting “negativity” because the traffic crisis.

He said: “I would like to see us as a council appointing a traffic consultant.”

Council officials are not expected to respond to the councillors’ demands until next month.

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