The campaign to restore the Bus Éireann stop at Grange in West Waterford has taken a significant step forward after a community delegation presented its petition in Leinster House yesterday.

The delegation, hosted by Sinn Féin Deputy Conor McGuinness and accompanied by Cllr. Kate O’Mahoney, travelled to Dublin to formally present the petition, signed by more than 800 people, calling for the Grange bus stop to be reinstated.

Deputy McGuinness raised the issue on the floor of the Dáil this week with Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary and Minister of State with responsibility for Rural Transport Jerry Buttimer. He further highlighted the issue at a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development.

Deputy McGuinness said:

“It was a privilege to welcome members of the Grange community to Leinster House. Their presence sent a powerful message that rural communities will not quietly accept the loss of essential public services.

“This petition represents more than 800 voices demanding that the Grange bus stop be restored. I made sure those voices were heard by raising the issue directly in the Dáil with Ministers Dara Calleary and Jerry Buttimer, and again at the Oireachtas Committee on Rural and Community Development.

“People should not be punished because Governments have failed to deliver long-promised road safety improvements. The answer is to make the road safe while protecting public transport, not to remove vital bus services.

“The challenge is not an engineering one. In fact there are several options available to engineers. What’s missing is political will and funding from Government. I will continue to build pressure on Government Ministers to take action to resolve this issue and allow for these bus stops to be restored.”

Cllr. Kate O’Mahoney said the turnout from the local community reflected the importance of the campaign.

“I want to thank everyone who travelled to Dublin and everyone who signed the petition. This campaign belongs to the people of Grange, Ardmore, Piltown and the wider area who have stood together to defend an essential service.

“Alongside Conor’s campaigning work at national level, I have been raising this matter with Waterford City and County Council. 

“The Grange bus stop is a lifeline for people travelling to work, college, hospital appointments and other essential services. We will continue working with the community until this decision is reversed.”

Deputy McGuinness said the campaign would continue until the Grange bus stop is reinstated.

“The visit to Leinster House is not the end of this campaign—it’s the next stage. We will continue pressing the Government, Bus Éireann and all relevant agencies until the Grange bus stop is restored.”