Sinn Féin representatives Conor D. McGuinness and Cllr. Catherine Burke have received confirmation that the Carrick on Suir Portlaw Kilmacthomas Lemybrien Dungarvan bus route has been included on the NTA’s rollout plans, and that Mahon Bridge is to be included on the route.
They cautioned that while inclusion on the 2026 list is welcome following a long campaign, a start date this year is not assured. They have called on the NTA to ensure the service does commence this year and have sought further engagement with the authority to press the case for a rapid rollout of this long awaited and much needed route.
Conor D. McGuinness said:
“This route is one I raise frequently in the Dáil because it is central to the issue of rural connectivity in west and south Waterford. Communities along this corridor have been left without a reliable public transport option for years.”
“Towns and villages such as Portlaw, Kilmacthomas and Lemybrien need proper links to Dungarvan for work, education, healthcare and daily life. Inclusion on a rollout list is a step forward, but people now need certainty that the service will actually begin.”
“We are pressing the NTA to ensure this route is prioritised and that it commences this year rather than being pushed back again.”
Cllr. Catherine Burke said:
“We have been campaigning for this route for a long time because of the difference it would make to rural communities along the line of travel. I have also pushed hard to ensure Mahon Bridge was included in the route. I was glad to receive confirmation that this stop has now been included.
“This is about giving people real choices and ending isolation for towns and villages that have been overlooked. We welcome the progress that has been made, but we are clear that inclusion alone is not enough.”
“We are now calling on the NTA to give clarity on timelines and to ensure this service starts as soon as possible. Communities have waited long enough and deserve delivery, not delay.”
Conor D. McGuinness TD 