Changes to the 23 and 24 bus routes came into effect yesterday, with both services now travelling along the quays and restoring a link to the north inner city for people in Finglas East and Glasnevin. They had lost this connection with the introduction of Phase 7 of BusConnects when the 9 and 83 became the 23 and 24 services.
People Before Profit Councillor for Finglas–Ballymun, Conor Reddy, said the change was welcome but warned that it does not address the wider problems with bus services across Finglas.
The changes follow months of campaigning by local residents, including a large public meeting organised by People Before Profit, protests, petitions and hundreds of individual complaints about the new F-Spine routes.
Speaking today, Cllr Reddy said:
“People will welcome the return of the city centre link, but I’m still being inundated with complaints about frequency and reliability on Finglas bus routes. Services are being cancelled, buses aren’t showing up, and people can’t depend on them day to day.”
Councillor Reddy said the impact is being felt most by those who rely on public transport the most.
“It’s older people, people with disabilities and children who are being hit hardest. Older residents are becoming isolated, people are missing medical appointments, and families are left waiting at bus stops in the cold and rain,” he said.
Significant gaps remain in the network, including the lack of a connection between Finglas West and Finglas South and the continued failure to serve Beneavin Road, where three nursing homes, a school and hundreds of residents have no direct bus service.
“Rerouting the 24 to serve Beneavin Road would add only a few minutes to the journey, but it would make a massive difference locally. That change still needs to happen,” Councillor Reddy said.
He also repeated calls for changes to speed up journeys into the city, including routing one of the F-Spine services away from Whitworth Road (similar to the old 140) and having one of the 23 or 24 services turn left at the Broadstone to serve O’Connell Street, instead of routing both down the heavily congested Church Street.
Reddy said today’s change shows that routes can be adjusted, but much more needs to be done.
“People in Finglas need and deserve a bus service as frequent as we were used to on previous routes, a service that is dependable and a service that meets all of our needs, leaving no one behind. Until that’s the reality, our campaigning will continue.”
Speaking on the call to restore a service to Beneavin Road, member of the Finglas Bus Action Group and representative of the Beneavin Residents’ Association, Cathy Byrne said: “I hope the NTA come to their senses. To restore community confidence, they must admit their errors and make the changes we have suggested. There has been a bus on Beneavin Road for decades, it should be returned. In other parts of Finglas and Glasnevin people have very reasonable asks that should be addressed too”.
In the next week, the Finglas Bus Action Group will publish an open letter to the NTA and Minister O’Brien, drafted by Cllr Reddy, signed by all local TDs and councillors, residents groups, community organisations and clubs. The letter is the latest step by the group who say they will continue to escalate their campaigning.