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Wicklow Rural Transport Initiative.
Click here to go to downloads page for All Route Timetables
Why
a Rural Transport Initiative ?
The primary purpose of this project is to reduce the marginalisation
and social exclusion
experienced by the people living in South and West Wicklow
by making transport available
and accessible to them.
Fitzpatrick Associates were commissioned by Wicklow County
Development Board in 2001
to undertake an audit of transport in County Wicklow as part
of a wider national study.
The key findings from this audit were as follows:
There
were nearly 2,800 people living in rural Wicklow with unmet
rural transport needs. The need was particularly acute among
young people followed by lower income groups, older people
and people with an illness or a disability.
- Inter-town
linkages are virtually non-existent especially those between
the East and West of the County. This affects community
cohesion in the County.
- The
length of national primary and secondary roads per 100km2
in Wicklow is less than the national average.
- There
were 4 Bus Eireann routes and 20 privately licensed bus
routes, in both cases less than Kildare or Meath.
An extensive consultation process was undertaken with local
communities and other stakeholders such as Wicklow County
Council, East Coast Area Health Board, Bus Eireann and private
operators. The routes identified were based on the needs identified
by communities in each area.
In July 2002, Wicklow Rural Partnership in conjunction with
the Management Committee submitted a Rural Transport Operational
Plan to ADM and the Department of Transport for a grant under
the National Rural Transport Initiative. Wicklow Rural Partnership
Ltd received £140,991 funding in December 2002. The
Management Committee then set about the recruitment process
and Breda Whelan, Project Co-ordinator was appointed in January
2003.
Management
Committee
| Name |
Position |
Group |
Area
Represented |
|
Bernard Keating
|
Chairperson
|
Aughrim Tidy Towns
|
Aughrim
|
|
Breda Whelan
|
Project Co-ordinator
|
Wicklow Rural Transport
|
South
and West Wicklow
|
|
Brian Kehoe
|
Committee Member
|
Wicklow Rural Partnership Ltd (WRP)
|
South
and West Wicklow
|
|
Helen Purcell
|
Committee Member
|
Wicklow County Council (WCC)
|
South
and West Wicklow
|
|
Mary Heaslip
|
Committee Member
|
East Coast Area Health Board
|
South
and West Wicklow
|
|
Madge Kenny
|
Committee Member
|
Tinahely Area Development
|
Tinahely
|
|
Eamonn Doran
|
Committee Member
|
Old Coollattin Country Ltd
|
Shillelagh
and Carnew
|
|
Jo Lynch
|
Committee Member
|
Donard Community Enterprises Ltd
|
Donard,
Glen of Imaal
|
|
Margaret Lynott
|
Committee Member
|
Dunlavin Area Rural Enterprise
|
Dunlavin,
Stratford-on-Slaney
|
|
Mary Keogh
|
Committee Member
|
Dunlavin Area Rural Enterprise
|
Dunlavin,
Stratford-on-Slaney
|
|
Geraldine Bracken
|
Committee Member
|
Dunlavin Area Rural Enterprise
|
Dunlavin,
Stratford-on-Slaney
|
|
Snezana Gorman
|
Committee
Member
|
Ballyconnell
Area Development Committee
|
Ballyconnell,
Coolkenna, Clonmore
|
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Paddy Barnes
|
Committee Member
|
Coolboy
|
Coolboy
|
|
Eileen Cullen
|
Committee Member
|
Rathdangan Golden Circle
|
Rathdangan,
Kiltegan
|
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Kathleen Conway
|
Committee Member
|
Rathdangan Golden Circle
|
Rathdangan,
Kiltegan
|
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Josephine
Murphy
|
Committee
Member
|
Rathdangan Golden Circle
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Rathdangan,
Kiltegan
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David
O'Kelly
David O'Kelly, a valued member of the Management Committee
of the Wicklow Rural Transport Initiative, sadly passed away
in June 2004. David was committed to the community of Tinahely
and south Wicklow. Wicklow Rural Transport wish to acknowledge
the great enthusiasm and work that David did for the group.
He will be sadly missed.
 The
Launch
A very successful launch of the Wicklow Rural Transport initiative
took place on Thursday, 31st July 2003 in Donard
Hall. Mr. Dick Roche, T.D., Minister for European Affairs
officially launched the project. Those present were also
addressed by B. Keating, Chairman, B. Kehoe, Erin Cotter,
ADM and passengers Josephine Murphy and Julia Kearney.
What
it means to its users
A poem from a passenger which epitomises what the service
means to people in South and West Wicklow.
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"Was
it just a mirage?
Or did I really see,
A bus around Rathdangan,
Oh no, It could not be.
After years of isolation,
Like a rainbow after rain,
Along the lonely Wicklow lanes,
It was, Indeed a bus that came.
For those who have no transport,
It was truly heaven sent,
And the driver lovely Dessie,
He is, The best, most helpful gent.
For a few brief hours each Thursday,
Our happy shower climb aboard,
To give, Our poor Dessie an earful,
As he travels on the road.
God Bless, the Minister of Transport,
God Bless, Breda and her staff,
God Bless, Wicklow Rural Partnership,
God Bless, Old Bertie and his gaff.
God Bless, Wicklow Rural Transport,
Who sent this bus our way.
God Bless, them each and everyone,
God Bless, the lot I say."
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The
Timetable (Click to download
 )
Contact
Details
Breda Whelan,
Wicklow Rural Transport Co-ordinator,
Saville House,
Saville's Cross
Rathdrum,
Co. Wicklow
Tel : (0404) 46977
Email : wrti@eircom.net
Wicklow
Rural Partnership Ltd., Saville House, Saville's Cross, Rathdrum,
Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Tel: +353 404 46977, Fax: + 353 404 46978, Email: info@wicklowleader.ie
  
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