Pictured at the Launch of TFI Local Link Mayo by Cllr Neil Cruise at the Museum of Country Life, Turlough, Castlebar are Sarah Togher, Manager Locqal Link Mayo, Cllr Neil Cruise and Senator Rose Conway Walsh. Pic: Heverin Print.
TFI Local Link Mayo launched its new brand for rural transport at an event held at the Museum of Country Life, Turlough as part of Social Inclusion Awareness Week 2018. In addition to the TFI Local Link launch, the event was the first in a series of events to obtain views from the public on the continued development the service in County Mayo.
The event highlighted the success of achieving over 137,000 passenger journeys covering 268,832 kms in 2017. TFI Local Link offers the public over 110 weekly affordable bus routes throughout Mayo. The services operate door to door pick up where possible and can be booked through the passenger bookings service at Glenpark, Castlebar that operates Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
TFI Local Link Mayo co-ordinate the delivery of community transport services on behalf of the National Transport Authority. The team at TFI Local Link Mayo also co-ordinate transport services for a number of agencies. Many services operate semi flexible routes and can deviate up to 2 miles to pick up passengers at their own doors.
Other services include HSE scheduled dialysis appointments to Mayo University and Primary Community and Continuing Care (PCCC). The Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht fund a ferry service for Inisbiggle Island dwellers to the mainland. This contract includes a bus service linking islanders to the TFI Local Link and public transport services. The department also fund seasonal routes to the National Park and Greenway from Westport to Ballycory.
TFI Local Link Mayo supports a number of community services, namely Balla Active Age Group; Ballyglass Community Council; Crossmolina Community Council; Killala Community Council; Louisburgh Community Centre; Mayo Abbey Parish Centre
Speaking at the launch and representing Mayo County Council, Councilor Neil Cruise said “TFI Local Link Mayo provides a valuable service to connect people who are isolated by location throughout the county” Councilor Cruise said “I encourage the public to use the service and tell others about it as in order to maintain and grow the service it needs to be supported locally” Councilor Cruise went on to say “I urge groups to contribute to the consultation process that is currently underway to identify the unmet transport needs in the county. Your contribution will inform a strategic plan and shape the development of rural transport in Mayo for the coming years.”
The Manager Sarah Togher said “It is great to see such wide ranging representation from around the county at the event that includes representation from community, business and state agencies. The company’s mission is to address unmet transport needs in the county from a social inclusion and community based perspective. The focus is on responding to rural isolation and enhancing the mobility, accessibility and community participation of local people”. She said “There is widespread recognition that rural transport is not meeting the expectations of many rural residents in the county – particularly the young, the elderly and low income households.
This is because mainstream transport policy does not readily recognise and translate into rural settings. Small scale and disperse rural need require different and locally tailored transport solutions to be considered.”
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