Local Link bus service has been a “game-changer” in South Offaly

THE Councillors of Birr Municipal District unanimously praised the Local Link bus services during their February monthly meeting, pointing out that they are very important and popular services.
The Local Link brand (formerly the Rural Transport Programme) was officially launched by the Minister for Community and Rural Affairs Michael Ring at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan Offaly in September 2017. Since then it's been steadily rolled out around the country and it's been a massive success, obviously filling an enormous need in our society.
”In Shinrone,” said Cllr Peter Ormond during the Birr MD meeting, “there were no taxis; there were no buses. Local Link, therefore, has been a gamechanger for us.
“The recently launched Roscrea to Athlone route has been a success and is popular with people in south Offaly, because it's giving people the opportunity of commuting to Athlone.”
The Councillor said he was impressed with the design of the bus shelter in Borris-in-Ossory. “That is the kind of bus shelter that we should be erecting all around the country.
“A couple of places where a bus shelter are badly needed are the townlands of Milltown and Cangort near Shinrone. There are a number of businesses and elderly people living in those areas and they badly need bus shelters.”
Cllr Clare Claffey said her children use the Local Link service quite frequently and they find it invaluable. “We used to feel a bit cut off in Banagher but we are now feeling better connected. It's a fantastic service.”
The councillors made their comments following a powerpoint presentation to them by Frances Byrne Manager TFI Local Link Laois Offaly.
Ms Byrne said it was good to hear that the people of Banagher and Shinrone were so appreciative of the bus services. She said another service which exceeded expectations was the Banagher to Tullamore route.
“I think the popularity with all the services in Laois Offaly is partly because a lot of people want to do their bit to fight Climate Change. They also avoid having to pay parking fees in urban centres.”
She said TFI Local Link Laois Offaly is one of 15 nationwide Transport Coordination Units (TCU) for the National Transport Authority (NTA). “We are a charitable Company with a voluntary Board of Directors who represent many of the public bodies, from the local authority, Laois Partnership, Offaly Local Development Company (OLDC), the Public Participation Network (PPN) and the Education Training Boards (ETB) along with community representatives. Our office is based in Laois County Council Buildings, Portlaoise. Our office comprises of four full time staff - the Manager, Finance and Compliance Administrator, Dispatch and Media Officer, Dispatch and Compliance Officer. Our remit is to manage the Rural Transport Programme on the ground and develop and grow future services for the National Transport Authority.
“TFI Local Link has two types of services which are open for all to use and we accept the free travel pass card.”
Ms Byrne said the service types are: 1) Door-to-door services (Demand Responsive Transport) which are prebooked a day in advance. TFI Local Link Laois Offaly have 62 door to door services and 11 of these services connect to Athlone TUS, Maynooth and local Education Training Centres across both counties. 2) Regular Rural Services, RRS, which operate on a fixed route between towns and villages. TFI Local Link Laois Offaly have seven in operation and three more planned for 2024.
All their services are tendered out to a pre-qualified operator's panel. This panel is open to all operators to register on at any time and is accessed through the e-tenders platform. All services are operated with buses that are branded under the TFI Local Link logos and are wheelchair accessible. Generally all contracts are of a four year duration.
TFI Local Link provides services where there is a deficit in transport and no other public service on the route and in some instances will connect with other providers.
Ms Byrne showed the councillors a graph which displayed that the number of people using the Door-to-door services in Laois Offaly has almost doubled during the last four years. The increase in Regular Rural Services in the two counties has been even more dramatic. In 2019 there were 19,792 RRS passengers. In 2023 there were 126,548 passengers.
She pointed out that during the last two years many delays in starting a service have arisen. “This was due to a lack of buses from the fallout of Covid. The war in Ukraine has also impacted construction and bus components to be obtained for manufacture. Brexit has decreased the number of buses available in the second-hand market due to import charges.
“There is also a lack of available drivers which is continuing to affect the volume of services we will be able to undertake.
“We also want to create rest locations for our drivers, and more charging points for our electric vehicles.”
She said the 840 service Banagher to Tullamore operates seven days a week, an increase from five days. The route was extended to Banagher and Tullamore from its original Pullough to Clara route. “Along with this extension of days we also, in June 2021, complimented the timings with a private operator across the route and increased the frequency for the local towns. The growth of this service was instant from the moment we increased it from five to seven days.
“The 823 Birr to Portlaoise route began in October 2022. On this route, for part of the corridor we have drop off only due to a crossover with a private operator.
“The 850 Roscrea to Athlone route began in September 2023 and was slow to pick up. There had been a large interest before the service went into operation. There are constant issues with locals not knowing where to get the bus, and timetable information on the ground. There was a reduced timetable for the first two months while driver issues were being rectified.”
Ms Byrne pointed out that the impact locally from the increased bus services in Laois Offaly is seen with the increased business for local shops and cafés along the routes; a reduction in private transport with increasing numbers travelling on TFI Local Link; greater access to health facilities and employment opportunities locally; a connection to onward travel with other bus services or Irish Rail.
She said the Local Link services all operate seven days a week and have many frequencies across the day and give more options for rural passengers to use.
She pointed out that housing shortage, especially in student locations, has been a barrier in the last number of years for young college students. The Local Link routes give an opportunity for these students to commute locally to nearby colleges and institutes.
She said the services will see greater sustainable mobility in rural Ireland but they need new infrastructure in order to optimise their full potential. “Therefore we will be looking at upgrading, improving and installing bus poles, shelters, and at ensuring all the bus stops are fully accessible. We will also be looking at building Bus Depots to facilitate driver breaks, refuelling capabilities, safe and appropriate parking.”
She added that TFI is offering up to a 30% discount on cash fares and 50% for young adults and students. Passengers can pay using a TFI Leap Card or the TFI Go App.
Cllr John Carroll said Local Link was a “very exciting brand for rural Ireland. Before it, people who couldn't drive felt isolated.
“In Birr we are looking for a link to Tullamore Train Station. That would be great. We also need a bus shelter in Emmet Square in Birr. We can't have people standing out in bad weather.”
Ms Kearns said not one route has been taken away yet. “Because of Discount Cards and Free Travel it doesn't break even therefore its state funding is essential.” She added that 80% of Local Link drivers are not Irish. She said many of the drivers are retirees. “Some of them are retired Guards. Some are retired prison officers. Prior to Local Link, in the old days, drivers would hit their hours quota within two and a half days in the week because of the big distances they were driving across Ireland. Now the routes are more localised.”
Cllr John Clendennen pointed out that after midnight it's nearly impossible to get a taxi in rural Ireland. He said a rollout of night buses would be a good idea.
Ms Byrne said the NTA is going to roll out €500,000 for bus stop enhancement. She said Emmet Square in Birr is “busy and dangerous. Two of our buses have been clipped there by passing traffic. We plan to start putting up Bus stop poles across the two counties during the first half of this year.”
She pointed out that taxis are “getting great work from dropping off and picking up passengers at hospitals, from 9 to 5. A lot of our bus drivers don't want to work after midnight. There is talk of rolling out an Uber type taxi scheme for rural areas.”