The 132 bus route, which currently provides a vital service to many west Wicklow residents, stops in towns and villages along the N81, proceeding to Tallaght Hospital, Heuston Station and Busáras.
Having campaigned tirelessly for an expansion of bus routes throughout the Baltinglass MD, Cllr Cronin said that the 132 bus route is the only one available to many communities south of Blessington and is vital for residents living along the N81 and its surrounding towns and villages.
“With stops in Blessington, Hollywood, Annalecky, Baltinglass and then Rathvilly, the 132 route is a lifeline for many commuters working in the city, to students attending 3rd level education in the capital and also for many people attending medical appointments in Dublin hospitals, ” Cllr Cronin said.
“It also allows for connections to other modes of transport such as the Luas and Irish rail services.
“While the 132 has several services throughout the day, the last bus leaves Dublin at 5.30 pm Although overall this is a great service for some commuters, many people working in the city cannot make the 5.30 pm bus due to working hours.
“I am, therefore, calling on Bus Éireann to extend the service on the 132 bus route to provide a later departure from the city in the evenings.”
Asked about the lack of high-capacity transport infrastructure servicing west Wicklow, Cllr Cronin said that, unfortunately, residents in west Wicklow do not have the luxury of a train or a Luas line and rely heavily on the 132 bus route.
“In recent years, we have seen a huge increase in passenger numbers on the 132 Bus Route and in recent months, Bus Éireann has provided a double-decker bus to cater for the demand,” Cllr Cronin commented.
“We are in a period where people are encouraged to use public transportation. We hear lots of talk about ‘keeping cars out of the city’, but this cannot be achieved, if we do not have proper public transport in place.
“I am urging Bus Éireann to expand the 132 bus service from the city center by providing a later bus on its daily service.
“As a commuter myself and a regular on the 132, I can see first-hand the difficulties many commuters face trying to get the last bus home at 5.30 pm,” she continued.
“If, for any reason, people miss that bus, they are stranded in Dublin. Getting out of the city, back to towns and villages in west Wicklow later in the evening can be like the movie, ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’.
“It is not a huge ask to provide a bus past 5.30 pm, and I am urging Bus Éireann to listen to its passengers and expand its service by providing a later bus in the evening.”
