Press Release: Looney Welcomes Support for IT Tallaght Bus Shelter

Cllr Dermot Looney, a Labour Councillor for Tallaght Central, has welcomed the huge support from staff and students in IT Tallaght for a campaign to install a bus shelter at the main stop outside the college. The “Shelter from the Storm” campaign, which Cllr Looney is running with the newly-created IT Tallaght Labour Branch, has already achieved more than 150 signatures from students, staff and local residents who use the stop, as well as support from more than 200 Facebook users.

The bus stop on the Old Blessington Road serves the 54a, 65, 65b, 77 and 77a routes and caters for hundreds of passengers each day. The “Shelter from the Storm” campaign asks Dublin Bus to install a shelter at the site to protect passengers from inclement weather.

“This campaign is noteworthy for two reasons,” said Cllr Looney. “Firstly, the lack of shelter at this site is ridiculous when you consider the huge numbers of passengers using the stop on a daily basis. The only reason offered against providing a stop – cost – can be easily argued against.

Dublin Bus receive significant advertising revenue for these shelters and the provision of a large shelter will encourage more potential passengers to stay at the stop. I have been promoting the idea of a shelter at this site since I was selected as a candidate last year but the only real impetus has come about with the work of students in the college.”

“Secondly, this marks a welcome development in student activism at IT Tallaght. The Labour Branch have run this campaign with enthusiasm and professionalism, and I’ve no doubt that the activists there will play a hugely positive role in student politics and the local Labour Party in the years to come. There are plenty of bus shelters in UCD, Trinity and DIT – Tallaght deserves better, and with the work of these students in setting the agenda I am confident that Dublin Bus will respond positively.”

Adam Fulham, Vice-Chair and Campaigns Officer of IT Tallaght Labour, said, “the campaign is going really well so far and we have got great feedback from both students in the college and local people. The bus stop is a really busy one so it’s a wonder there isn’t a shelter yet.”

“On our first day of petitioning in ITT, we got over 100 signatures. The Students’ Union have shown a real interest in our idea and supported our campaign. I hope the campaign is successful because there is a real appetite for a shelter, especially with Irish weather!”

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Dublin Bus Service Changes

In the past, I have spoken to a number of blog readers from across Dublin 6w, 12 and 24 about bus service changes.

The cutbacks in Dublin Bus are an assault on ordinary working people and environmentalist principles. I have campaigned with my Labour colleagues against their implementation but, sadly, today is the day when much of them come into effect.

You can see the new restricted timetables for local buses below;

77 - Grand Canal Dock/Ringsend to Jobstown
77a - Grand Canal Dock/Ringsend to Tallaght (The Square)
77x - Ellensborough to UCD Belfield via town
150 - Fleet Street to Rossmore
210 - Liffey Valley Centre to Tallaght (The Square)

A number of local routes have been withdrawn entirely - including the 15x, 50x, 202 and 206.

Service changes to more routes, including the 19a (Jamestown Road to Greenhills) service, will be made on May 10th.

For a full list, please see http://www.dublinbus.ie/en/News-Centre/Travel-News/Service-Changes-/

I am committed to working as a candidate and, hopefully, a Councillor to bring better bus services to our area. You can read more of my blog posts on transport here and here.

Local Branch Motion to Labour Conference

Labour's Party Conference take's place this year in Mullingar from March 27th-29th.

The following is the motion being put forward by my branch, the Willie Cremins Limekiln-Greenpark/Greenhills Branch, on public transport.

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Preliminary Agenda - Motion to Labour Party Conference 2009

Willie Cremins Branch (Limekiln/Greenpark-Greenhills), Dublin South West

Conference believes;

That the social, environmental and economic infrastructure of the country is dependent on a stable, well-funded and effective public transport system.

Conference notes;

That recent attacks on public transport by the Government, particularly Dublin Bus, are a betrayal of environmentalist principles and our responsibilities to lower carbon emissions.

Conference further notes;

That those hit hardest by cuts in Dublin Bus routes and services will be those on low incomes, the elderly and the immobile.

Conference rejects;

Right-wing proposals to privatise certain routes which will lead to the cherrypicking of profitable services and the downgrading of Dublin Bus overall.

Conference reaffirms;

The Labour Party’s commitment to a well-funded, effective and affordable Dublin Bus service in public ownership, serving all communities in the Dublin area, and acting in an integrated manner with other public transport services in the region.

Press Release - Looney Lashes Bus Cutbacks, Calls for Clarification

Dermot Looney, the Labour Party candidate in June's local elections in Tallaght Central, has slammed cutbacks in Dublin Bus routes, claiming they will hit those on low incomes, the elderly and the immobile hardest. He has also sought clarification on whether services local to Greenhills, Tallaght and the Dublin 6w area will be affected under the restructuring of bus routes and frequency.

"As a daily bus user for many years I know how important a reliable, well-funded Dublin bus service is to local people – particularly those on low incomes, older people and those who are disabled," said Looney. "The government's decision to cut jobs at Dublin Bus and the ensuing confusion about affected services means those people, who are being hit hardest by the recession in the first place, now face the prospect of being left without bus routes or with reduced services."

"I have written to Dublin Bus seeking clarifications on how cutbacks will affect the 15a, 17, 19a, 50, 56a, 77, 77a, 77x, 77n and 150 routes."

"We need to ensure that transport services are accessible to all, so I have also asked for a bus shelter to be put in place at the top of 'the Dip' in Greenpark, as well as for one to be re-installed opposite the Cuckoo's Nest in Kilnamanagh. I have also asked Dublin Bus to consider a feeder bus to the Luas line from Greenhills, where so many older people are reliant on public transport."

"It is particularly galling for the Green Party Ministers to go along with these cuts. Labour recognises that the social, environmental and economic infrastructure of our local communities is dependent on a stable, well-funded and effective public transport system. Simply put, public transport is the best way to curb vehicle emissions and reduce our carbon footprint."

"Perhaps the Greens expect us all to be able to afford hybrid cars, but they and their Fianna Fáil masters are clearly out of touch with working people by carrying through with a slash-and-burn policy at Dublin Bus."

"As a Labour candidate, I am committed to a well-funded, effective and affordable Dublin Bus service in public ownership, serving all communities in the Dublin area, and acting in an integrated manner with other public transport services in the region."