Waterford delegation travel to Leinster House to demand reinstatement of local bus stop
The delegation were hosted by Waterford Sinn Féin TD Conor McGuinness
A Waterford delegation has travelled to Leinster House to demand the reinstatement of a local bus stop.
The delegation travelled to Dublin to formally present a petition, signed by more than 800 people, calling for the bus stop at Grange on the N25 to be reinstated.
The delegation were hosted by Waterford Sinn Féin TD Conor McGuinness and accompanied by Cllr Kate O’Mahoney.
The bus stop has been removed from the Route 40 service in recent weeks after concerns were raised over safety at the location.
Deputy McGuinness raised the issue on the floor of the Dáil with Minister for Rural and Community Development Dara Calleary and Minister of State Jerry Buttimer.
He further highlighted the issue at a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development.
Deputy McGuinness said: “It was a privilege to welcome members of the Grange community to Leinster House today.
“Their presence sent a powerful message that rural communities will not quietly accept the loss of essential public services.
“This petition represents more than 800 voices demanding that the Grange bus stop be restored.
“I made sure those voices were heard today by raising the issue directly in the Dáil with Ministers Dara Calleary and Jerry Buttimer, and again at the Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development.”
He went on to say that the N25 should be made safer so that the Grange bus stop can be reinstated.
“People should not be punished because Governments have failed to deliver long-promised road safety improvements.
“The answer is to make the road safe while protecting public transport, not to remove vital bus services.
“The challenge is not an engineering one. In fact there are several options available to engineers. What’s missing is political will and funding from Government.”
“ I will continue to build pressure on Government Ministers to take action to resolve this issue and allow for these bus stops to be restored.”
Cllr. Kate O’Mahoney said the turnout from the local community reflected the importance of the campaign.
“I want to thank everyone who travelled to Dublin and everyone who signed the petition.
“This campaign belongs to the people of Grange, Ardmore, Piltown and the wider area who have stood together to defend an essential service.
“Alongside Conor’s campaigning work at national level, I have been raising this matter with Waterford City and County Council.
“The Grange bus stop is a lifeline for people travelling to work, college, hospital appointments and other essential services. We will continue working with the community until this decision is reversed.”
Deputy McGuinness said the campaign would continue until the Grange bus stop is reinstated.
“Today’s visit to Leinster House is not the end of this campaign—it’s the next stage. We will continue pressing the Government, Bus Éireann and all relevant agencies until the Grange bus stop is restored.”