A New Local Link bus to connect Cootehill - Shercock - Bailieborough - Virginia and Cavan Town has been announced.
The 108B which will be added to the East Cavan network in the coming weeks has been confirmed by local TD Deputy Niamh Smyth this afternoon.
This new route will link Cootehill to Shercock, before going onto Bailieborough and Virginia and once in Virginia it will meet the 109x Bus Eireann service where passengers can transfer to go to Cavan Town according to the local deputy.
The Cavan Monaghan TD has also called on the National Transport Authority to include more stops on the route for the wider hinterland to include Killinkere.
This new route announcement follows the introduction of the Local Link route 171 in July and the new Regional 170 bus route last month.
Deputy Smyth added that people in the area have been starved of public transport for so long and this new bus route answers the calls of people living in the locality.
“This new route is a further investment in our rural public transport network and follows on from the introduction of the Local Link route 171 in July 2023 and the new Regional 170 bus route in August. Route 171 is not in operation between Shercock and Dundalk, via Carrickmacross and Inishkeen. Route 170 is operating between Dundalk and Cavan, via Carrickmacross, Kingscourt and Bailieborough but will not operate via Inishkeen or Shercock”.
Deputy Smyth concluded, “We have been starved of public transport for so long and these three new routes will improve the quality and efficiency of so many people lives who have been in touch with my office on this issue. In one case, a pensioner contacted me about a taxi costing €60 to get her to her local GP in an neighbouring town. These bus routes will assist her greatly and she can avail of free travel".
