Press Release: O’Brien urges support for extension of rural hospital bus link service

O’Brien urges support for extension of rural hospital bus link service

Dublin Fingal Senator Darragh O’Brien is calling on the Minister for Transport and the NTA to provide funding for the expansion of the Nifti rural transport programme to bring patients from the North County Dublin area to Beaumont Hospital for treatment. 
“This is a service I have long championed along with my colleague Cllr Brian Dennehy. Patients going for treatment in Beaumont Hospital have to take at least two bus trips at the moment. If this service is extended to Rush, Skerries and the north of the county, it will make life so much easier for them.
“Even if patients going for chemotherapy or other treatments have their own car, the congestion on the M1 or the M50 in the mornings is dreadful. The bus service will reduce the hardship these patients have to go through,” added Senator O’Brien.
At present the Nifti bus service is funded by the Dept of Transport through the Rural Transport Programme which is managed by the National Transport Authority.
Nifti provide services in North Fingal for people who live off the main transport routes and who have no access to public transport.
“The cost of the expansion of the service will be minimal and it will mean greater access for patients from rural villages to Beaumont Hospital,” pointed out Senator O’Brien.
“Nifti already has the buses, all it will cost is the fuel and wages for drivers.”
The extension of the scheme follows an assessment of transport needs carried out by Fingal County Council and is one of four suggested new routes.