RESIDENTS who rely on a key Limerick City bus route have expressed deep concerns following a decision to remove the Mulcair Road stop, leaving them facing “unnecessary hardship”.
The move by the National Transport Authority (NTA) was published as part of its final new bus network proposal for Limerick in December 2023.
Under the plans, the new network would remove the Mulcair Road stop from the popular 304 bus route connecting Raheen with Castletroy and the city centre.
Pennywell Road, Childers Road, and parts of the Ballysimon Road will also be removed under the plans, which currently form part of the 304 bus route, as well as John Carew Road and O’Malley Park stops on the 303 bus route.
Residents in Dooradoyle are now organising a petition to highlight their concerns over the removal of the Mulcair Road stop from the service, which is due to be implemented in 2027.
“This change will have a significant impact on many members of our community, particularly those who rely on the bus for access to schools, workplaces, colleges, hospital appointments, and essential daily needs,” a local resident told the Limerick Post.
“Our senior citizens and individuals without alternative transport options will be especially affected. While we understand that improvements to the public transport system are being considered, we are concerned that the removal of service from our road may create unnecessary hardship for a large number of local residents.”
The group are now seeking volunteers to gather signatures for their petition.
“A few hours from a group of six to eight volunteers would be enough to get the petition completed,” the group said.
In a statement to the Limerick Post, a spokesperson for the NTA said that the transport service “published its final new bus network for Limerick in December 2023. The redesign of the bus network is one of the nine key elements of BusConnects Limerick that aims to transform the city’s bus system in making public transport more useful to more people.”
“The implementation of the new network will see services moved from Mulcair Road to the Dooradoyle Road,” the NTA said.
“Bus users on the Mulcair Road will have a choice to access service at either Dooradoyle Road or Avonmore Road. In this way, bus services will be retained within a reasonable walk of Mulcair Road. The implementation of the new network is currently expected to commence in 2027 subject to funding and resource availability.”
For more information signing the petition or donating time towards the residents’ cause, contact Mairead on 085 210 7996.
