Conor D. McGuinness TD and Cllr. Kate O’Mahoney have raised serious concerns regarding the reduction in bus services transporting elderly residents of Dungarvan to the Primary Care Centre and Community Hospital.
Deputy McGuinness has written directly to Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, calling on her to urgently intervene and reverse the decision to cut the service to just three days per week.
Speaking on the issue, Deputy McGuinness said:
“This service is a lifeline for many older people in our community. These are individuals who depend on this transport to attend vital medical appointments and maintain regular contact with healthcare providers. Reducing this service will inevitably lead to missed appointments, delayed care, and increased isolation.
He also criticised the response from the HSE to his recent Parliamentary Question, stating:
“The response provided was weak, and failed to grasp the seriousness of the situation. It offered no meaningful reassurance to those affected and did not reflect the urgency required to address this issue.”
Cllr. O’Mahoney echoed these concerns, adding:
“Our elderly residents deserve dignity and reliable access to healthcare. Cutting this transport service undermines that and places unnecessary stress on individuals and families. We need immediate action to restore the full service.
“I have heard firsthand from patients who rely on this service, and the impact of these cuts is deeply worrying. Many are now anxious about how they will attend essential appointments and fear being left without any viable alternative. This situation is placing unnecessary strain on older people who should be supported, not sidelined.”
Both representatives are calling on the Minister to ensure that the bus service is reinstated to its previous timetable without delay, and to guarantee that access to healthcare for older people in Dungarvan is not compromised due to transport limitations.
They have also requested a detailed response from the Minister outlining the steps that will be taken to safeguard this essential service.
Conor D. McGuinness TD 