Rural bus service for pensioners under threat

A VITAL rural transport service which offers a “lifeline” to thousands of pensioners is facing major cutbacks because the Government has failed to increase its €3 million budget for next year, drivers warned yesterday.

Thirty-four drivers operate the service in remote rural areas for pensioners who have no other form of public transport.

The e3m allocated by the Department of Transport to the Rural Transport Initiative Project in the Estimates for next year is just not enough, said driver, Chris Long.