West Offaly Partnership

In rural west and south Offaly, transport is necessary for most tasks of daily living such as shopping, education, employment, accessing health appointments, as well as engaging in civic, social and recreational activities. Since 2002 a very active group, through Offaly local development company, have been working closely with all communities within the area, to plan and develop a network of transport routes that facilitate the needs of vulnerable groups, and encourage their full participation in community life on a daily and weekly basis. We currently have:

2 daily services to third level colleges covering St Sheelans Templemore, AIT, and Moate Business College, with a database of almost one hundred students using our services in 2008 alone .

11 weekly multifunctional services to local towns (Birr, Tullamore, Ferbane, Athlone, Roscrea and Clara) giving a vast range of passengers (youth, elderly, parents etc..) the opportunity to complete tasks needed for daily living.

5 weekly services to active age/network events in local centres (Ferbane, Ballycumber, Rahan and Clara) giving our elderly people the opportunity to get out, meet friends, identify care needs, contribute and educate our communities.

We work very closely with the youth groups in Offaly and last year facilitated many recreational events, educational opportunities like computer training and comhairle na Nog projects, afterschools projects, summer camps etc...

We are committed to upskilling our population by bringing people to training centres in our locality to attend many types of training.

Last year alone we recorded almost 19,000 passenger journeys involving all of the above trips.

Recently the members of “An Bord Snip” recommended the abolition of rural transport in it’s totality across the country (37 areas). They maintain that there is enough private transport available, high level of car ownership and sufficient other local organisations who can offer transport to maintain the link for passengers to services. To refute this it is our experience in west and south Offaly that most rural bus services are unprofitable and therefore the routes above will not be a viable option for transport providers to continue. In 2008 almost 65% of journeys were free travel pass journeys and we are therefore dealing with a group of passengers who will not be able to afford the high costs of private travel. Finally we are not in a situation in west and south Offaly, whereby there are many organisations with idle buses available to bridge the gap, we have ensured over the years that we worked closely with all local agencies re: transport provision guaranteeing no duplication of services and encouraging many healthy transport partnerships which ensured minimum cost of transport provision all around. These organisations will be facing many dilemmas with increased transport costs if the abolition of rural transport is ratified by the government.

What the “An Bord Snip” report did not cost were the indirect, socially necessary significant benefits of rural transport. For example:

Rural transport by reducing isolation can save the health service the costs of otherwise necessary home help visits, nursing homes, mental health services, social worker visits etc... The use of health care services declines as an individuals distance from facilities increases, thereby in the longer term increasing the cost of emergency care, treatments for chronic diseases, mental health etc..

Rural transport by providing access to education and training opportunities for people who need to stay living at home due to low incomes, single parenthood, carers role or otherwise, can save the exchequer money by creating an equally employable workforce in rural areas.

Rural transport by encouraging people to use buses is a great cost saver to the environment and to the exchequer as it will reduce investment required to green up our transport system.

Rural transport was built by communities working together to meet a need – these communities will now have to look elsewhere for an appropriate infrastructure to support the many networks and events that sustain our elderly and youth groups at a huge additional cost.

Rural transport is provided by rural transport operators who in turn employ local drivers and buy diesel from local companies who in turn employ local people and so on.

The contribution of rural transport to rural infrastructure is inestimable – quality of life for many has greatly improved on account of rural transport and is sustainable into the future if rural transport is left healthy and well.

Please help us to ensure the continuation of all of the above services into 2010 and beyond.

Please contact us for further details of rural transport events in the coming time periods.

“Rural transport connects rural Ireland”

Routes are available by clicking on the links below
Timetable and Schedule
Active Age
Ferbane area
College Runs
South Offaly
Town Centre Trips

The services provided by the West Offaly RTP are as follows:

Access to education Buses for September 2009 are available here

Fares: Return €6.00, Students €3.00, Free travel pass holders: Free

All services must be booked in advance, by calling 05791 51622
To view this list in PDF format Click Here

For further information contact:
Sarah Kennedy
Rural Transport Coordinator
Tel: (057) 9151622
Email: SKennedy@westoffalypartnership.ie


	ONTACT USVACANCIESNEW COURSES
		In rural west and south Offaly, transport is necessary for most tasks of daily living such as shopping, education, employment, accessing health appointments, as well as engaging in civic, social and recreational activities. Since 2002 a very active group, through Offaly local development company, have been working closely with all communities within the area, to plan and develop a network of transport routes that facilitate the needs of vulnerable groups, and encourage their full participation in community life on a daily and weekly basis. We currently have: 2 daily services to third level colleges covering St Sheelans Templemore, AIT, and Moate Business College, with a database of almost one hundred students using our services in 2008 alone . 11 weekly multifunctional services to local towns (Birr, Tullamore, Ferbane, Athlone, Roscrea and Clara) giving a vast range of passengers (youth, elderly, parents etc..) the opportunity to complete tasks needed for daily living. 5 weekly services to active age/network events in local centres (Ferbane, Ballycumber, Rahan and Clara) giving our elderly people the opportunity to get out, meet friends, identify care needs, contribute and educate our communities. We work very closely with the youth groups in Offaly and last year facilitated many recreational events, educational opportunities like computer training and comhairle na Nog projects, afterschools projects, summer camps etc... We are committed to upskilling our population by bringing people to training centres in our locality to attend many types of training. Last year alone we recorded almost 19,000 passenger journeys involving all of the above trips. Recently the members of “An Bord Snip” recommended the abolition of rural transport in it’s totality across the country (37 areas). They maintain that there is enough private transport available, high level of car ownership and sufficient other local organisations who can offer transport to maintain the link for passengers to services. To refute this it is our experience in west and south Offaly that most rural bus services are unprofitable and therefore the routes above will not be a viable option for transport providers to continue. In 2008 almost 65% of journeys were free travel pass journeys and we are therefore dealing with a group of passengers who will not be able to afford the high costs of private travel. Finally we are not in a situation in west and south Offaly, whereby there are many organisations with idle buses available to bridge the gap, we have ensured over the years that we worked closely with all local agencies re: transport provision guaranteeing no duplication of services and encouraging many healthy transport partnerships which ensured minimum cost of transport provision all around. These organisations will be facing many dilemmas with increased transport costs if the abolition of rural transport is ratified by the government. What the “An Bord Snip” report did not cost were the indirect, socially necessary significant benefits of rural transport. For example: Rural transport by reducing isolation can save the health service the costs of otherwise necessary home help visits, nursing homes, mental health services, social worker visits etc... The use of health care services declines as an individuals distance from facilities increases, thereby in the longer term increasing the cost of emergency care, treatments for chronic diseases, mental health etc.. Rural transport by providing access to education and training opportunities for people who need to stay living at home due to low incomes, single parenthood, carers role or otherwise, can save the exchequer money by creating an equally employable workforce in rural areas. Rural transport by encouraging people to use buses is a great cost saver to the environment and to the exchequer as it will reduce investment required to green up our transport system. Rural transport was built by communities working together to meet a need – these communities will now have to look elsewhere for an appropriate infrastructure to support the many networks and events that sustain our elderly and youth groups at a huge additional cost. Rural transport is provided by rural transport operators who in turn employ local drivers and buy diesel from local companies who in turn employ local people and so on. The contribution of rural transport to rural infrastructure is inestimable – quality of life for many has greatly improved on account of rural transport and is sustainable into the future if rural transport is left healthy and well. Please help us to ensure the continuation of all of the above services into 2010 and beyond. Please contact us for further details of rural transport events in the coming time periods. “Rural transport connects rural Ireland” Routes are available by clicking on the links below Timetable and Schedule Active Age Ferbane area College Runs South Offaly Town Centre Trips The services provided by the West Offaly RTP are as follows: Access to education Buses for September 2009 are available here Fares: Return €6.00, Students €3.00, Free travel pass holders: Free All services must be booked in advance, by calling 05791 51622 To view this list in PDF format Click Here For further information contact: Sarah Kennedy Rural Transport Coordinator Tel: (057) 9151622 Email: SKennedy@westoffalypartnership.ie

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