Albert Dolan TD Confirms No Change to Route 425A Until Public Consultation Report Is Complete

Deputy Albert Dolan TD has confirmed that the National Transport Authority (NTA) has agreed to pause any plans to reroute the 425A bus service pending the completion of a full report on the recent public consultation.

Speaking at the Public Accounts Committee on Thursday, 15 January, Deputy Dolan raised serious concerns about the NTA’s proposal to reroute the 425A service from Monivea through Athenry before continuing on to Galway city. He highlighted the strength of local opposition to the proposal, particularly from residents along the Galway road who would lose their direct bus service into the city.

“I made it very clear to the NTA that this proposal is unacceptable to the people who rely on the existing route,” Deputy Dolan said. “Rerouting the 425A through Athenry would remove a vital direct service to Galway city and significantly increase journey times for commuters, students and those using the bus for everyday travel.”

Deputy Dolan welcomed the strong public engagement with the consultation process, which closed on Friday, 9 January, noting that a large number of submissions were made from across the locality.

“Athenry is a growing town with a population of over 5,000 and it needs its own dedicated bus service to Galway city,” he said. “It should not come at the expense of communities further out the road who depend on the 425A. Even many people in Athenry who made submissions recognised this and opposed the proposal for that very reason.”

During the committee meeting, NTA official Mr. Jeremy Ryan confirmed that responses to the consultation are currently being collated and that a report will be completed by the end of quarter one. Crucially, he also confirmed, following Deputy Dolan’s questioning, that the proposed rerouting of the 425A will be paused until the consultation report is finalised.

Deputy Dolan emphasised the importance of the existing service, particularly over the Christmas period, when many people relied on it to travel to Galway for shopping, college and work.

“This service is about enabling people to live their lives,” he said. “Over Christmas, it was heavily used, and that shows how essential it is. Rerouting it would be a disaster for those communities.”

He added that a dedicated Public Service Obligation (PSO) bus service for Athenry could be viable if properly structured around peak travel times.

“I firmly believe a dedicated service for Athenry would wash its own face if designed correctly,” Deputy Dolan said. “I am committed to working constructively with the NTA to deliver a solution that meets the needs of all communities involved, and I appreciate the ongoing engagement to date.”

Ends