‘Milestone’ in Laois as provision of bus service for ‘choked’ Portlaoise

The process of recruiting an operator for a dedicated Portlaoise town bus service is about the commence, according to Laois County Council which hopes it will be in service in 2025.

Mr Simon Walton, Director of Services for Portlaoise, told town councillors that the National Transport Authority (NTA) had been in communication with the Council in March about progress in rolling out the service.

He said they confirmed that the procurement process for the operator of the bus services for Portlaoise would commence in March. He explained that separate to this process up to nine months of work will be needed to install the bus stops on and other infrastructure.

Nevertheless, he believes an important point has been reached.

“It is a significant milestone in the introduction of the bus service. It will give people the option of an alternative,” he said.

He believed the council could now begin to put a timeframe on its operation.

“At best it will be the end of this year before it will be introduced but probably early next year,” he said.

He explained the NTA would provide the buses for the service while the operator would be responsible for logistics such as the drivers and a depot.

He said the NTA would appoint a contractor to construct the bus stops and route infrastructure which would be overseen by the council.

“The bus service is important in terms of providing an alternative for people. If you go back to the fact that over 2,900 journeys into Portlaoise every day come from the town itself, then the bus service would provide an alternative,” said Mr Walton.

Councillors welcomed the news at the Portlaoise Municipal District Cathaoirleach. Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, Fianna Fáil, was among those to comment.

“We all know that Portlaoise is choked with traffic and there is no alternative at the moment. This will provide an alternative all over the town and it is very welcome,” she said.

Speaking at the District's March meeting, she praised Mr Walton and other Council staff who have been pushing the process.

The bus service was proposed in 2040 And Beyond A Vision For Portlaoise – A Strategy For A Better Town Centre which was published in 2017.