Locals Call for Bus Stop on 188 Bus Route at The Reask

Wednesday 27 November 2024, 11:45 am

By Darren Donoghue

On the 16th of January 2023, TFI Local Link Louth/Meath/Fingal provided a new bus Route 188 that would provide transport services between Athboy, Navan and Drogheda.

The 188 route runs eight times per day, seven days a week including bank holidays.

The announcement by TFI Local Link Louth/Meath/Fingal of the 188 route was seen as a god send for many of those looking for public transport from Athboy to Drogheda, but for those living in and around The Reask near Duleek in Co. Meath, their calls for a bus stop has so far fallen on deaf ears.

For those who are unaware of the locaclity of The Reask Duleek, It is located between Balrath Cross and Duleek on the L1610 Abbey Road, with The River Nanny running parallel to it.

Those living in the locality of The Reask have been availing of the 188 local link which has been stopping at that location to pick up or drop off passengers up until the 8^thof October 2024. Since then, the Local Link service hasn’t stopped at The Reask to pick up passengers looking to use the service.

Tomas Lynch who lives in Athcarne told Boyne News about the situation he and his family find themselves in, as Tomas’s daughter Sinead has a disability and heavily relies on the 188 local link to get to college in Drogheda.

He said, “The 188-bus stopped for Sinead at the Reask prior to the 8th of October but the driver informed her he would not stop there anymore because it's not an authorised bus stop and she would either have to go to Balrath house or Duleek”.

“This is unacceptable given our own residents request the bus stop at the Reask”.

“On the 8th of October Sinead contacted the office of the Minister for Environment & Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan Green Party TD requesting a bus stop be put in place at Reask Duleek for the bus route 188”.

“Ryan's office passed the book by advising to contact the office of the Nation Transport Authority. In turn NTA have passed the request to the Strategic Planning Team who will decide if it's safe to have a bus stop at the Reask”.

Tomas also questioned how could Bus Eireann use the location at The Reask as a bus stop for secondary school children?

He asked the following questions.

“How can the SPT be deciding if the location at the Reask is safe when in fact that location is already an authorised Bus Eireann bus stop for secondary school children who are being transferred to school by Bus Eireann contractors Mullen's?”

“If it's not safe then why are Bus Eireann using it?”

“Why is the 188-bus let stop at Balrath House on a dangerous bend yet not allowed to stop at the Reask which is a straight part of the road?”

“Since Sinead requested the 188-bus stop at the Reask two more stops have been added to the route, one at Gaskinstown and the second at Ciannan's Villas, why?”

Tomas’s daughter Sinead also contacted Laytown-Bettystown Councillor Stephen McKee who then contacted the relative authorities. Councillor Stephen McKee who lives in the locality has been lobbying for a bus stop at The Reask.

Councillor Stephen McKee told Boyne News the following:

“I would like to see an official Bus Stop for Route 188 on the Duleek-Balrath road at The Reask. Currently, there is a Stop in Duleek and then at Balrath Cross.”

“There are many people out the school road, at Deenes, up the Reask road, Sneeoge and Athcarne, Gaulstown that use the service. The bus passes along this road and it would be great if the service, which is rural in nature, served those areas directly.”

“Currently, anyone in this area would have to get a lift by car either into Duleek or Balrath Cross, a distance of between 2km and 3km in both directions. It is a dangerous road to walk along. I am aware of older people but also college students in that area who would use the service if it was more convenient for them. I am lobbying for this new stop to go ahead.”

Boyne News has contacted The National Transport of Ireland for an update about a bus stop at the Reask and we await a response.

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