Heydon welcomes bus routes funding

Fine Gael Kildare South TD Martin Heydon has welcomed the confirmation of funding for new public service bus routes to service South Kildare from Minister for Transport Pascal Donohoe.

This follows a concerted campaign by local residents, councillors from the Athy Municipal District, supported by Kildare South Oireachtas members, following the loss of bus routes from Castledermot, along the old N9 and Athy earlier this year.

The timetable of the routes have been coordinated to link up with follow on national services in both Naas and Carlow as well as being particularly useful for those attending Carlow IT. The routes are currently being tendered for with a start date by the end of July being envisaged.

Free travel pass will be accepted on the new routes. The new routes will be trialled until the end of the year with the warning from the NTA to the local communities 'Use it or lose it'.

Pictured are members of the Castledermot Action Group in Leinster House with Deputy Heydon.