Council can only advise on bus shelters

The placement of new bus shelters across Cavan remains firmly in the hands of the National Transport Authority (NTA), officials confirmed at the April monthly council meeting.

While the authority can offer advice on potential locations, health and safety considerations mean final decisions are otherwise out of their control.

The discussion was prompted by councillors seeking updates on promised shelters, particularly along busy Local Link routes. Aontú’s Adrian Rogers highlighted the need for additional stops, pointing out that buses “must only stop” at approved locations. He argued that expanding these locations would make the services “more user friendly.”

Cllr Rogers cited specific areas, including Mullen Cross, where local communities had already requested improvements. While acknowledging that road safety is a concern along many routes, he suggested the council may be “overly cautious” in some cases.

Bus Éireann can stop at various locations so long as it is “safe to do so,” he said, asking so why not the Local Link?.

Fianna Fáil’s Áine Smith recalled raising the issue in December 2024 and again in February 2025, sharing a personal example to illustrate the impact- a female cancer patient waiting to travel to Dublin’s Mater Hospital for chemotherapy, left soaked in a downpour with no shelter available.

Support for the motions also came from Fine Gael’s Trevor Smith, who argued that “more stops” between towns are essential; otherwise, rural residents may simply drive, defeating the purpose of providing a public transport service.

“People will use it if there are more stops,” the Ballyjamesduff representative assured.

Other councillors, including Independent Brendan Fay and FG’s Niamh Brady, backed the calls for improved access.

Meanwhile, Director of Services Paddy Connaughton emphasised the importance of safety when selecting stops, cautioning that corners cannot be cut. Ultimately, he said, the design and final decisions are left to the NTA.