THANK YOU: Mayor of Kerry Patrick O'Connor-Scarteen thanked the Kerry Local Link drivers at the Aghadoe Heights Hotel for their work during COVID-19. Pictured l-r were: Alan O'Connell (Acting GM Local Link Kerry), Mayor of Kerry Patrick O'Connor-Scarteen and Donal Nelligan (Local Link driver). Photo: Joe Hanley

By Michelle Crean

A special message was relayed to local bus drivers this week to thank them for their continued service during the pandemic. Mayor of Kerry, Patrick O’ Connor Scarteen paid tribute to the invaluable service being provided by Local Link Kerry bus operators and drivers throughout the county.

With buses operating from Ballylongford to Bonane and Barraduff to Brandon Point and everywhere in between, Local Link Kerry services cover the length and breadth of the Kingdom. And the service is set to expand with additional services for the Dingle Peninsula which they hope to roll out soon.

“Local Link Kerry bus services continue to operate, providing a valuable service for those who need public transport to go about their daily lives," Alan O’Connell, General Manager of Local Link Kerry said.

"Great tribute must be paid to the drivers who are working every day on the frontline providing a service and keeping passengers safe. I am sure our passengers will agree that their work has been greatly appreciated. During this third lockdown we have again seen some regular passengers cocooning or opting not to travel and drivers are collecting their shopping, prescriptions or meals and wheels and delivering it to their house on the return leg of the bus service.”

ESSENTIAL JOURNEYS

Alan wanted passengers to know that services will “continue to operate for essential journeys and that during the Level 5 restrictions, buses will operate at 25 percent of normal seating capacity to ensure that social distancing can be adhered to onboard.

"On routes that require it, we are increasing the seating size of the vehicle to meet this demand. In addition, our drivers are carrying out additional cleaning of the vehicles, passengers are to wear face coverings for the duration of their journey and each passenger is required to ensure hand sanitisation when embarking and disembarking. Each of our door to door services must be pre-booked so as to guarantee a seat. Passengers can do so by calling our office in Castleisland on 066 7147002 and one of our experienced members of our team will be only happy to assist them.”

Mayor of Kerry, Patrick O’ Connor Scarteen added that he'd like "to thank all the Local Link Kerry drivers throughout Kerry for the essential work they do".

“Local Link Kerry is an invaluable public transport resource for Kerry that connects our communities. In many ways, the Local Link driver is an unsung hero to those who need to use public transport. Local Link Kerry’s services are available for everybody - people going to work, families, students, and will be for tourists and visitors alike when they start travelling to our beautiful County again," he said. "As Local Link Kerry contracts bus operators to provide their services, it is important to recognise the inward investment of over €1 million that Local Link Kerry receives from the National Transport Authority which is then paid to bus operators all over the county, that’s a huge investment in rural Kerry."