Mayo Minister calls on NTA to reverse decision to cut Achill bus service

The decision to cut stops on the 450 bus service on Achill Island has to be reversed according to Mayo TD Dara Calleary who described the decision as a bad idea.

The National Transport Authority decided on Thursday to cut stops in the villages of Dugort and Dooniver on the current 450 service which runs from Dooagh on Achill Island to Louisburgh via Westport. The service will no longer serve the existing stops at Dugort and Dooniver from February 22. 

In justifying the decision, the NTA stated that passengers in Dugort and Dooniver can continue to access the TFI Anseo service and book a trip to Achill Sound and connect with the 450 service from there.

However, Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, said that the TFI Anseo service is still a pilot scheme and cannot be used as an excuse to cut the service.

“This decision by the NTA to reduce this service is not a good idea. TFI Anseo has been game-changing for Achill and is a wonderful service, but it is still a pilot scheme that is still getting off the ground, so it cannot be used as an excuse for this change. There has been no confirmation that it will be continued, and, in any event, it does not replace the service adequately. Will passengers be expected to pay two fares under this new proposal?

“While the NTA are proposing to remove only two stops, these stops serve a huge area of Achill. Dugort is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Achill which sees its population increase by thousands in the summer months. TFI Anseo is nowhere near ready to meet this demand,” he said.

The 450 service was introduced in 2020 and currently operates six daily services from Achill to Westport from Monday to Saturday with a reduced service on Sundays and public holidays. 

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Local councillor Paul McNamara also called on the NTA to rethink their decision to reduce the service saying that the bus service is important to the tourism industry in the summer.

“This cannot be allowed to go ahead. People travel from all over the north side of the island to these two bus stops. It is essentially cutting a whole cohort of local people off from daily life, people who are reliant on this service all year round. Also, I would invite anyone form the NTA to come to Dugort in June, July or August to see the volumes of people who are here and let them justify this decision,” he said.

Concluding, Minister Calleary said: “I am calling on the NTA to reverse this decision to allow for full engagement with all stakeholders. I feel it has been made in haste without assessing the full consequences. I will also be raising this issue with my colleague, Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien at the earliest opportunity.”