Lack of bus route on Condell Road must be addressed, Limerick TD says

SINN Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan has called for a bus service for the Condell Road, deeming the current situation for residents without public transport options as unsustainable. The Limerick TD made the statement while discussing the ongoing delays in implementing the BusConnects strategy in Limerick. Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Quinlivan highlighted significant gaps in the provision of bus services across Limerick City. “The Condell Road in Limerick is home to hundreds of families and workers. The road itself is well laid out and has a significant amount of bus infrastructure, with both bus lanes and bus shelters. And yet, there is no bus servicing the area. It is incredible that an area, very populated and with the necessary infrastructure does not have an active bus service.” Looking at the other side of the city, he added: “Then you have the Kilteragh Estate in Dooradoyle, an estate home to 100s of families that has no bus facility with the nearest bus stop two kilometres away outside the Crescent Shopping Centre.” Deputy Quinlivan also took the view that BusConnects, to date in Limerick, has been marked by shortcomings in planning, funding, and delivery. “The project as a whole has been met with delays and postponements. In Limerick, it has not been delivered. This failure to deliver and to adequately fund it undermines the confidence of the public with no benefit to our daily commuters,” he said. “From a cost perspective, Bus Connects has spiralled, with cost estimates increasing from an initial outlay of €1billion to new estimates ranging from €2.6 billion to nearly €3.4 billion.” Deputy Quinlivan said that “what people need in Limerick City is safe, affordable, and reliable public transport”. “Depending on where you live, you may or may not get such a service. This is not what we have in many urban areas of Limerick. This needs to change and it needs to do so quickly. Bus Connects has been delayed from 2027 to 2030 and these delays are impacting the liveability of Limerick City. We cannot wait for that timeframe,” he insisted. In response, Minister Jerry Buttimer took the opportunity to provide an update on BusConnects in Limerick, explaining that future phases of BusConnects Limerick will feature in the National Transport Authority’s detailed national development plan implementation plan later this year, which will set out the elements of the programme to be progressed in the coming years within available funding to 2030. The post Lack of bus route on Condell Road must be addressed, Limerick TD says appeared first on Limerick Post.