A call to introduce fixed stops on Killarney's new Demand-Responsive Transport (DRT) bus service has been made at this Wednesday's Killarney Municipal District meeting, with a view to making the service more accessible for older residents.

Speaking to the chamber, Cllr John O'Donoghue welcomed the new service, which he described as a "very welcome addition to life in the town." However, he expressed curiosity about its usage levels and sought an update on how successful it is proving.
Cllr O'Donoghue's key proposal was to adapt the service to better suit older customers. He said that a number of people had mentioned that while the service is a "superb idea," its app-based operation could be a struggle for some.
"Were there to be one run per day into town with defined stops and times, and another one later on to do the return journey, it would make the service much more accessible to older people who struggle with the app," he said. He suggested a single morning loop calling to the entrances of major estates, with a return trip in the afternoon.
"It would greatly enhance the experience for all and increase user levels which would in turn increase the chances of the service becoming a permanent fixture around the town," he added.
In reply, the council said that the Smart DRT Project is a pilot initiative funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA). The council's response stated that the service is defined by its flexible routing and scheduling, which reacts dynamically to passenger requests. It involves three buses operating seven days a week from 6 am to 11 pm.
The reply from the council said that given the "dynamic response to passenger demand is a central feature of the pilot project," there are currently no plans to include fixed stops in route planning. The project is overseen locally by Local Link Kerry.