Funding block stalls new bus link between Mullingar and town in Offaly

IT is “deeply frustrating and unacceptable” that the proposed Connecting Ireland Route 826, which would finally provide a direct public transport link between Mullingar and Edenderry cannot proceed in 2026 due to the absence of funding Independent TD Carol Nolan has commented.

The Director of Public Transport Services at the National Transport Authority has now confirmed to Deputy Nolan that: “There is currently no funding available for new or enhanced bus services in 2026, and we will need to await confirmation of funding for PSO public transport services in Budget 2027 to determine what additional Connecting Ireland services we can implement in 2027.”

Deputy Nolan said this admission will come as a major disappointment to communities across Offaly, Westmeath, and Laois who have waited years for improved rural mobility.

The NTA could only confirm that that Route 826 is formally proposed under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan and would operate Mullingar → Kinnegad → Edenderry → Clonbullogue → Bracknagh → Portarlington → Monasterevin → Kildare Village, with up to six return journeys seven days a week, operated by Local Link Laois Offaly:

“It is welcome that the route is designed and ready to go because this service would deliver a long overdue and badly needed public transport connection between Mullingar and Edenderry for the first time. But it is simply not good enough that our rural communities are being told to wait yet again and this time until Budget 2027 before any progress can be made, if it will be made at all,” Deputy Nolan said.

“Government cannot continue to talk about balanced regional development while leaving rural towns and villages without basic public transport connectivity. Route 826 would support workers, students, older people and local businesses yet it is stalled because the necessary investment has not been allocated.”

“I will be pressing the Minister for Transport and the NTA to ensure that Budget 2027 includes the funding required to deliver Route 826,” concluded Deputy Nolan.