and have refused to
resume the payment of subsidies since," said Cllr.
MacLochlainn.
"This, in effect, means that all bus routes
connecting communities in Derry city to north
Donegal and communities within north Donegal are
operated on a solely commercial basis rather than as
a public service as is the case in the rest of the
island."
The Buncrana-based councillor was commenting after
Dáil questions on the matter from his colleague
Caoimghín O Caoláin, TD.
“This is yet another example of the neglect of this
region. Why did our Government abandon our public
transport service to a for-profit service for over
20 years?" he asked.
"This is the reason why our elderly people in these
areas of Malin Head and Manorcunningham village have
no means to independently travel and use their free
bus pass. They are denied their rights. They are
second class citizens.”
Cllr. MacLochlainn said he was determined to hold
the Government to account on the issue.
"They cannot just wipe their hands of responsibility
for this debacle. I have already asked my
colleagues, Sinn Féin Dáil leader, Caoimghín O
Caoláin, TD and Sinn Féin transport spokesperson,
Donegal Senator Pearse Doherty to pursue this matter
further and in particular, Caoimghín will avail of
the parliamentary questions available to TDs to put
the Minister under further pressure," he added. |
