Aidan Corbett
"My taxpayers' money is just as valuable as somebodies in Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Galway, Donegal, anywhere. Why shouldn't we have the same services?"
Those were the thoughts of a concerned Ballyduff Upper resident on the lack of a Local Link bus service in the area.
A route from Ballyduff Upper to Dungarvan is being deliberated upon in the West Waterford village with a meeting taking place last week at St Michael's Hall.
Secretary of Ballyduff Upper Community Council, Gobnait Branagh spoke to WLR FM, reflecting on the meeting and the issues currently faced by the parish.
Ms Branagh says a bus service could be a 'lifeline' for the village.
At the meeting last week, a nurse stated that patients are referred to Primary Care Facilities in Dungarvan. For those without a car or unable to drive. They rely on someone to drive them.
The Secretary described those people as 'stranded'.
She also made the point that for younger people in the area, it would provide relief for parents having to transport their children to areas with more amenities and part-time job opportunities.
Ms Branagh believes it would be of benefit from an environmental point of view with less people relying on cars.
The Secretary says the village has lost its corner shop and post office. As a result of this, locals have to travel to the nearby towns of Tallow and Lismore to conduct business such as grocery shopping and collecting pensions.
"If you don't have a car or access to a car or someone to drive you, you need a bus," she said.
Ms Branagh set the scene of the weather conditions of the night of the meeting at St Michael's Hall last week.
"It was one of the worst nights of the year. It was a horrible, wet, cold, windy night. At the same time, people turned up."
She believes the bus route will allow people to visit Ballyduff.
"We have a beautiful village with loads going on and it would be absolutely fantastic for other people to come here. It's a very scenic area."
Asked whether the population of Ballyduff Upper has resulted in the lack of a service arriving to date, Ms Branagh responded:
"I'm kind of puzzled because Conna is another small village and it's over the border in County Cork and there is an existing service that goes from Tallow to Conna to Fermoy. Our populations would be similar, so I don't understand why we don't have the same facility."
Asked whether she would like to see more people in the community, she said:
"The more the merrier. Anybody that has moved to Ballyduff has fitted in really well and they're amazed with the amount of clubs and activities we have going on here and the facilities we have. There's an amazing community spirit," she stated.
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