Bhí cruinniú fiúntach agus dearfach ar 23 Aibreán i nGaeltacht na nDéise leis an Teachta Dála Jerry Buttimer, Aire Stáit ag an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus ag an Roinn Iompair le freagracht speisialta as Iompar Tuaithe, faoi na deacrachtaí a bhaineann leis na socruithe atá i bhfeidhm maidir le rochtain ar an mbus áitiúil, bealach 361. I láthair ag an gcruinniú bhí baill den ngrúpa stocaireachta Local Link Tuaithe an tSean Phobail agus Bainisteoir Forbartha ar Chomhlucht Forbartha na nDéise, Cabríní de Barra. Bhí an Comhairleoir Jack White ó Chomhairle Chontae Chorcaigh in éindí leis an Aire Buttimer ag an gcruinniú. Ghabh an Comhairleoir Pat Nugent, Comhairle Cathrach agus Contae Phort Láirge a leithscéal.
Bhí plé oscailte agus macánta ar na deacrachtaí a bhí ag pobail Ghaeltacht na nDéise agus na hAirde Móire de bharr nach bhfuil rochtain ar an mbus a thuilleadh ach amháin ag stadanna oifigiúla ainmnithe, seachas ag pointí inrochtana eile ar fud an bhóthair, mar a bhí i gceist go dtí mí na Nollag 2023. Thug Margaret Power cuntas don Aire Buttimer ar thorthaí suirbhé a rinne an grúpa Local Link Tuaithe an tSean Phobail. Toisc go bhfuil achar suntasacha idir stadanna, ó 5 km go 13 km óna chéile i gcásanna áirithe, agus de bharr go gcríochnaíonn an tseirbhís níos luaithe anois ná a bhíodh, tá aonrú sóisialta méadaithe do go leor sa phobal agus níos lú daoine ag úsáid an tseirbhís, mar thoradh ar an athrú. Thug Louise Neylin cuntas ar an tsiúlóid 3 km atá le déanamh aici chun rochtain a fháil ar an stad bus oifigiúil is gaire. Roinn Barry Power agus Francis Nugent scéalta eile leis an Aire Buttimer maidir leis na deacrachtaí agus cruatan atá cothaithe don phobal de bharr easpa rochtain éasca ar stad bus sa Sean Phobal, atá mar cheantar tuaithe leathan agus iargúlta. Léirigh Cabríní de Barra frustrachas maidir leis an easpa freagraí ón National Transport Authority ar na gearáin a bhí seolta agus an imní a bhí léirithe.
Gabhadh buíochas leis an Aire Buttimer as a rannpháirtíocht ghníomhach leis an ngrúpa ar an gceist agus as éisteacht go haireach leo. Léirigh an grúpa a muinín as cumas an Aire Buttimer an cheist a réiteach chun sástacht an phobail áitiúil.
Lack of access to Local Link Service 361 through Gaeltacht na nDéise highlighted at a meeting with the Minister of State, Jerry Buttimer
A worthwhile and positive meeting took place on 23 April in Gaeltacht na nDéise, Co Waterford with T.D. Jerry Buttimer, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and at the Department of Transport, with special responsibility for Rural Transport, regarding the difficulties associated with the pick up and drop off arrangements in place for the local bus, route 361. Present at the meeting were members of the local lobby group, Rural Local Link Old Parish and the Development Manager of Comhlucht Forbartha na nDéise, the community and language development company for Gaeltacht na nDéise, Cabríní de Barra. Councillor Jack White from Cork County Council accompanied Minister Buttimer to the meeting. Cllr Pat Nugent, Waterford City and County Council sent his apologies.
There was a frank and open discussion on the difficulties faced by the communities of Gaeltacht na nDéise and Ardmore as a result of the bus no longer being accessible except at designated official stops, rather than at other accessible points along the road on request, as had been the case until December 2023. Margaret Power outlined to Minister Buttimer the findings of a survey undertaken by the group Rural Local Link Old Parish. As there are considerable distances between stops, from 5 km to 13 km apart in some instances, the change has resulted in increased social isolation for many in the community and less people using the service. Louise Neylin outlined the 3 km walk she has to undertake to access the nearest official bus stop. Barry Power and Francis Nugent shared other stories with Minister Buttimer regarding the difficulties and hardships that have been caused to the community due to the lack of easy access to a bus stop in the large, remote rural area of An Sean Phobal. Cabríní de Barra expressed frustration regarding the lack of response from the National Transport Authority to the complaints that had been sent and the concerns that had been expressed.
Gratitude was expressed to Minister Buttimer for his active engagement with the group on the issue and for listening so attentively. The group expressed their confidence in Minister Buttimer’s ability to resolve the issue to the satisfaction of the local community.
