Concern Raised As 885 Bus Timetable Leaves School Children Behind

Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore has raised concerns that the 885 local link timetable is leaving Blessington children stranded in Naas with no way home from school.

The new extended 885 Local Link route started operating on November 20th and runs from Baltinglass to Sallins, via Dunlavin, Ballymore Eustace, Blessington and Naas.

The service runs four times a day in both directions, seven days a week. However, in a major change from the previous 885 timetable there is no service leaving Sallins between the hours of 1pm and 6pm.

Social Democrats TD for Wicklow, Jennifer Whitmore also raised concerns about the impact the new timetable was having on families who rely on the 885 for their children to get home from school.

“We have been contacted by several families who are very worried and anxious about how their kids will get home from school each day because of the new timetable. These are children who are facing into exam years and don’t need the added stress of figuring out how to get home. Some of the parents contacting us are nurses and Guards who can’t leave work to collect their children and now find themselves in an impossible situation,” commented Deputy Whitmore.

 “If we want to promote public transport and encourage more people to use it then it must be a viable option that works for the needs of our communities. I will be raising this issue with the National Transport Authority and hope that a solution can be found,” concluded Ms Whitmore.