Togra Taistil Tuaithe Acla / Achill Rural Transport Initiative

Tá an Tógra Taistil Tuaithe i Mhuigh Eo á riaradh ag Meitheal Mhuigheó Teo agus 'sé Comhlacht Forbartha Áitúil Acla riarthóirí na scéime seo in Acaill. Ós rud é go bhfuil go leor ceantar in Acaill gan córas taistil poiblí tá riachtanas mór leis an scéim seo atá dá feidhmiú ag conraitheoirí áitiúla taistil. Úsáideann na seandaoine an tseirbhís seo uair nó dhó sa tseachtain agus is seirbhís an-tábhachtach dóibh é.

The Rural Transport Initiative has been a lifeline to isolated rural dwellers in Mayo. It was a Dept of Transport pilot programme designed to provide transport for people where there was no suitable public service. Bus Acla has been very successful since CFÁA took on the project in the Parish for Meitheal Mhaigh Eo, commencing operations in April 2003. It started out as two services, one in the Achill Northwest area bringing pre-school children to the Keel Community Playgroup, and the other transporting elderly pass holders in the Cloughmore, Dooega, Mweelin and Ashleam area on a link to Achill Sound, where they could collect their pensions, visit the doctor and meet socially.

In April 2004, the Playgroup discontinued the service due to staff shortages (a member of their staff had to travel on the bus with the young children). Undeterred, CFÁA started another service to bring the elderly residents of Keel, Pollagh and Dooagh to their local Post Offices. The residents of the Sheltered Housing Unit in Keel have described Bus Acla as “a real lifeline”. Using this bus, we were also able to offer a service to people living in Tonragee, at the request of Coisde Forbartha Thoin re Gaoith, and facilitated residents of Inisbiggle Island by collecting them at Bullsmouth Pier. Residents in Saula and Bunnacurry have also been accommodated. 81 of Bus Acla's 84 regular passengers are free travel pass holders.

Achill has suffered several Post Office closures in the recent past, all covered extensively in the local and national press. These circumstances, outside our control, have left a real need and void in the Parish, which we are attempting to fill by offering a new service in the Dugort and Valley areas. None of our elderly passengers own cars, and the majority of them live alone, or with an elderly spouse or sibling.

The Bus Acla drivers report that passengers are always good-humoured and have been known to give a few verses of a song on occasion. Happily the reverse is also the case according to the passengers, but they’d like to hear a bit more singing from the drivers!

The Local Working Group in charge of the RTI are very pleased to hear that the service has been 'mainstreamed' nationally from our pilot projects, but disappointed in the allocation of funding for 2005. As it is the same as for 2003 and 2004, it represents a cut in real terms, and we are finding it harder to operate each year. We really appreciate the work of our dedicated operators who provide this invaluable service.

Links