Rural Ireland getting a "Drink-Link".... lucky feckers!

Beta Ray Bill

I laughed and laughed when I read this today!

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/drink-link-buses-to-service-50-rural-communities-841535.html

Looks like the Healy-Raes have done it again.
The guise of a fool seems to work REALLY well for Danny Healy-Rae.

They managed to get their constituents a shuttle bus to and from the Pub at a cost of €450,000 to the tax payer. (pilot scheme only mind you, in 50 communities )

They must be the best politicians in the country, constituents love them, non-constituents hate them.

I'd LOVE a drink link to the local boozer. It's a 20 min walk to the local cruiser for me (Raheny, Dublin)
I know there is a Nite Link service from Dublin City centre out to the suburbs, but it's not the same. I want to be picked up from the Pub at at 11pm and dropped to my front door without having to pay a Taxi man!!!! :mad:

This is the best bit:

Critics of the service say its timing deliberately coincides with strict new drink driving laws putting first time offenders off the road.

Minister Ross says it is just a coincidence.

Squeaky wheel gets the oil and all that! :rolleyes:

Your Face

Are you paying the full 450000 yourself?

murpho999

Improved public transport for rural communities with added benefit of reducing drink driving that may save lives.

What is there to complain about?

€450k is nothing really.

Graces7

grahambo wrote: »

I laughed and laughed when I read this today!

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/drink-link-buses-to-service-50-rural-communities-841535.html

Looks like the Healy-Raes have done it again.
The guise of a fool seems to work REALLY well for Danny Healy-Rae.

They managed to get their constituents a shuttle bus to and from the Pub at a cost of €450,000 to the tax payer. (pilot scheme only mind you, in 50 communities )

They must be the best politicians in the country, constituents love them, non-constituents hate them.

I did NOT love them when I was in their ,,, territory.... believe me on that. But as soon as I reed that headline today I knew who did it..

Danny used to drive past my market stall, wearing huge bright red ear protectors. I waved to him once; his mouth dropped open and I thought he was going to drive into the wall

ChikiChiki

Rural Ireland needs this pilot scheme to work and as a 100% city person I do not begrudge it one bit, both from a social aspect and keeping businesses afloat. Such a scheme will be value for money.

The social aspect is the most important. Rural communities can be a lonely, desolate place especially for people living on their own.

Shenshen

If it finally stops the Healy-Raes from blocking life-saving road safety regulations for the entire country, it's a small enough price to pay.

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich

There’s a taxi rank right outside the Raheny Inn you lazy get

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

I'd never use it. Travelling all over the area with a busload of drunks before getting to my house is my vision of hell. I don't begrudge it. Urban areas benefit from heavily subsidised transport, so a few minibus routes in rural areas is not exorbitant. I remain unconvinced that many will actually use it though. Time will tell.

Working class heroes

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich wrote: »

There’s a taxi rank right outside the Raheny Inn you lazy get

Free taxis eh?

JMNolan

I didn't think we cared about cost once it saved lives from drink drivers? Right? That's what it's always been about, saving lives regardless of the cost? So €450k is simply the cost of saving lives.

Beta Ray Bill

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich wrote: »

There’s a taxi rank right outside the Raheny Inn you lazy get

Yes, but I don't want to pay a tenner!!!!!!!
What are you not getting here!!?? :pac::pac::pac:

Your Face wrote: »

Are you paying the full 450000 yourself?

Few cents probably yeah!
As will most other people that work

It's not biggy really

I just think it's funny that Deputy Ross said it was "a coincidence".
He's so full of sh*t
When he's not objecting to all planning permission with a 5 miles radius of Stepaside, he's either ignoring Public transport issues outside of his constituency or blowing a load of hot air!

pawrick

When I heard it announced I thought what a joke, then i checked to see if it would be in my area, alas no. Looks like I'll have to stick to getting a taxi home at night the rare time I can afford to go out.

I cant see many people wanting to get the last bus home at 11 though down the local and I'd say the insurance will be shocking given the target audience.

Overheal

Brilliant.

Some people are just like “ah we don’t need abortion just solve the drink problem in Ireland and the sluts will stop spreading their legs” and then you get this.

I can’t.

beefburrito

In all fairness there's pubs all over Dublin.

If you're having to walk 6 miles for a pint without street lights and wobble 6 miles home it's no joke.

A lot of the best pubs in rural Ireland are only open a few days a week now.

I haven't drank in 15 years but I wouldn't begrudge any one a pint or two or a good piss up and get home safely.

Guy:Incognito

They could use the money to show people that there's more to life than the pub

sideswipe

There’s a smell of elections in the air....

Your Face

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

They could use the money to show people that there's more to life than the pub

That's a lot of money to spend in a brothel.

valoren

How come nobody was enterprising and started to offer this service for a fee?

Obviously there was a business opportunity there to drive people to the back of beyonds.

Business Plan:

Get a loan for a minibus. Something like this.
https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/ford/transit-minibus/used-2016-161-ford-transit-minibus-46-limerick-fpa-1305195957788313953?SOURCE_ID=SOURCE_ID_FPA_FROM_FEAT_LIST

It's a 17 seater, so you'll work say 5 nights a week.
You charge €15 a head to drop people home. That's 255 for one full occupancy run.
You do 2 runs a night. So you make 510 for one evenings work.
At a low occupancy of half volume, you still make 255 for one nights work.

One year income is gross 132k at full capacity. Half that for low end, so 66k.

If successful, you go to the Bank and have them 'backing brave' to finance a fleet of mini buses, you hire drivers, you create jobs and you make money.

But instead, we do all of the above but get the government to pay for it.

BPKS

grahambo wrote: »

I laughed and laughed when I read this today!

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/drink-link-buses-to-service-50-rural-communities-841535.html

Looks like the Healy-Raes have done it again.
The guise of a fool seems to work REALLY well for Danny Healy-Rae.

They managed to get their constituents a shuttle bus to and from the Pub at a cost of €450,000 to the tax payer. (pilot scheme only mind you, in 50 communities )

They must be the best politicians in the country, constituents love them, non-constituents hate them.

I'd LOVE a drink link to the local boozer. It's a 20 min walk to the local cruiser for me (Raheny, Dublin)
I know there is a Nite Link service from Dublin City centre out to the suburbs, but it's not the same. I want to be picked up from the Pub at at 11pm and dropped to my front door without having to pay a Taxi man!!!! :mad:

This is the best bit:


Squeaky wheel gets the oil and all that! :rolleyes:

A little project for you.

Look at the names of the locations in Kerry that will get a route (one day per week BTW) and put the name of the village into google maps.

Just look at the tiny areas of the county that are covered by this scheme.

Its all just a PR stunt by Ross. Optics with absolutely no substance to it.

Mint Sauce

Dub, has public transport on his doorstep, and complants when the rest of the country gets it!



In fairness though, even where this service might be provided, I cant see it driving around every single homestead.

If I want to go out in the home place, the village pub is a 45 minute walk away, and its a taxi home to my door, for about €5-6, which the landlord will call for me. The local town is a 15 minute drive, I have sat on with the taxi bus on a Saturday night/Sunday morning, going around house after house, till he gets to mine, yes it might only be a fiver, compared to a taxi on your own for about €20, but its not pleasent. Cant see Ross' bus doing the same service.

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich

grahambo wrote: »

Yes, but I don't want to pay a tenner!!!!!!!
What are you not getting here!!?? :pac::pac::pac:

Look at the end of the day they're still living in some backwards kip in the middle of nowhere, I wouldn't take all the free booze buses in the world to have to endure that

It's a pity people don't understand how money like that gets spent.


New bus needed by the bus company so import duties on the vehicle.
Tax and registration.
Money spent on petrol is taxed.
The petrol station makes money.
The bus company makes money.
The bus driver pays tax.
The mechanics get more business and they pay tax.
Pubs take in money and pay tax.
The pub owner, the bus driver and the mechanic meet the tyre guy and have beers. Pay tax.
etc.


There isn't some well where this money just get thrown into and forgotten about.

Beta Ray Bill

BPKS wrote: »

A little project for you.

Look at the names of the locations in Kerry that will get a route (one day per week BTW) and put the name of the village into google maps.

I don't have time to do that....
Not with all the complaining about rural Ireland I have to do.

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Dub, has public transport on his doorstep, and complants when the rest of the country gets it!

Major cities should have the best public transport. There is a large number of people in close proximity of one another to make it viable

Some Lad that lives 10 miles away from the nearest shop and it sitting on 50+ Acres of land should have none.

And to add to that, DARTS were off these weekend.
I walked up to Raheny Road to get 29A... 38 min wait!!! :eek:
P*sstake

Walked back home and drove the car into town.
So even in "The Big Schmoke" it's sh*t!

Mint Sauce

grahambo wrote: »

I don't have time to do that....
Not with all the complaining about rural Ireland I have to do.



Major cities should have the best public transport. There is a large number of people in close proximity of one another to make it viable

Some Lad that lives 10 miles away from the nearest shop and it sitting on 50+ Acres of land should have none.

And to add to that, DARTS were off these weekend.
I walked up to Raheny Road to get 29A... 38 min wait!!! :eek:
P*sstake

Walked back home and drove the car into town.
So even in "The Big Schmoke" it's sh*t!

1st world problems!



Yes the major cities should have major transport, but rural areas at least deserve some kind of local bus service. Dont think there is a need for a through the night one, and as said, cant see any set up working as described, that a couple of local taxi drivers cant do them selves.

Malayalam

Jaelyn Lively Spirits wrote: »

I'd never use it. Travelling all over the area with a busload of drunks before getting to my house is my vision of hell. I don't begrudge it. Urban areas benefit from heavily subsidised transport, so a few minibus routes in rural areas is not exorbitant. I remain unconvinced that many will actually use it though. Time will tell.

There are other hells. The grocery bus. I lived in a very rural area and had no car. Once a week, a long time ago, a minibus would bring the country women to town for the shopping. I had to go with the baba. There were no other options. Crammed in tight with 20- odd oul wans and no air-conditioning, EVERY ONE OF THEM SMOKING MAJORS and CARROLLS LIKE IT WAS THEIR LAST DAY ON EARTH... :mad:


I think the drink link is a good idea. None for around here though it seems, which means the locals will still have to keep driving drunk, I guess.

Billy86

murpho999 wrote: »

Improved public transport for rural communities with added benefit of reducing drink driving that may save lives.

What is there to complain about?

€450k is nothing really.

I'd agree. I can't stand the Healy Rae's and what essentially amounts to the "f*** you I got mine" mindset of many of their constituents, but €450k is a small price for what at least on first glance appears a useful improvement. It's more of a patchwork idea that would need to be improved on over time, but addresses the core of the problem quite well. Apparently there are 2.25mn people employed in Ireland and for the sake of simplicity to assume that this will be paid for entirely by income tax, I'm happy to give a whopping €0.20c a year for it.

CruelCoin

grahambo wrote: »

I know there is a Nite Link service from Dublin City centre out to the suburbs, but it's not the same. I want to be picked up from the Pub at at 11pm and dropped to my front door without having to pay a Taxi man!!!! :mad:

And there lies the crux. You do have a bus, and taxis!

Many in rural Ireland have neither, and punitive drink-drive laws impact those communities disproportionately.

highdef

grahambo wrote: »

I'd LOVE a drink link to the local boozer. It's a 20 min walk to the local cruiser for me (Raheny, Dublin)
I know there is a Nite Link service from Dublin City centre out to the suburbs, but it's not the same. I want to be picked up from the Pub at at 11pm and dropped to my front door without having to pay a Taxi man!!!! :mad:

So you're only 20 minutes walk from the pub. Are you able bodied? If so, what's the issue with walking for 20 minutes, if you're not willing to pay for a taxi? Bear in mind, you have the luxury of such fancy things like footpaths & streetlights.

If I were to walk the 6km to the nearest pub in Enfield, it would take an hour or possibly a bit more if don't walk briskly. Half of the walk is along very narrow country roads and the other half is along the hard shoulder of the old Dublin to Galway Road.....not a nice experience at night time. Oh, and did I say that I need to bring a torch and high viz for the return journey as it'll be pitch dark.

Even getting a taxi is usually not an option as there are literally only one or two drivers in the vicinity and they usually head to Dublin at the weekends.

I live in one of the counties that is getting this service (Kildare) but I'm not sure if my tiny village will be on the list.

So consider yourself lucky that you can walk safely to and from the pub in a very short 20 minutes. Get walking, you lazy git - again, assuming that you've no underling issues stopping you from doing so; laziness is not an underlining issue, BTW

I would like to see it supported, but will it take off it wouldn't suit a lot of people they want the freedom to decide when to go and when to come home.

Billy86

highdef wrote: »

Even getting a taxi is usually not an option as there are literally only one or two drivers in the vicinity and they usually head to Dublin at the weekends.

That's one of the main reasons I don't mind this, and why the "we don't get free taxis in Dublin" argument falls flat - in many parts of rural Ireland you don't get taxis, full stop. And why would someone operate there when they might get only 1-2 fares on a full night?

And as you mentioned, road/path/lighting quality and distance also come into play. I can make the roughly 5-6km walk from Dublin city centre back home and never be left with no path, never be more than maybe 25-30 metres from a street light, rarely be more than a couple hundred metres from a shop, chipper, etc should I need to pick something up like milk/bread/etc, run out of smokes, get hungry as one does after a few pints and so on, and as best I am aware never have a point where I need to cross a single street without a traffic light being there (the only exception being the small 10-ish ft wide road outside the house because I'm in a cul-de-sac).

I've got family in the countryside and a walk home from there can be a whole different kettle of fish. Also due to road/path/route quality it can take as long to walk 2km there as it does to cover 4km in Dublin.

RobertKK

Rural Ireland gets so little services, this is an improvement as it will help with the problem of rural isolation, lack of transport, drink driving as some people are idiots and will help local businesses.
I won't be using as I don't go the pub, but for people who do, this is very good.

Pyridine

Hmmmm. Back in my day a "drink-link" was an ATM.

I must be getting old!

_Kaiser_

sideswipe wrote: »

There’s a smell of elections in the air....

That's exactly what it is... same reason why the FF/FG spats have intensified recently, and why the decision on locking out the College Green area to traffic has apparently been deferred for a while.

Leo must be fancying his chances at the polls this year and it wouldn't do to piss off the traditional FG rural and well-heeled urban voter beforehand.

On the actual topic... it's ridiculous! Providing a free shuttle bus for rural dwellers because they "need" to be able to get to/from the pub is a joke and shows how far we've to go regarding the obsession with drink in this country.

By all means go have a pint in your local, but plan ahead for how you'll get home, or (shock/horror) don't drink that night if you're relying on the car.

This backwards parochial gombeenism just pulls the entire country back.

qwerty ui op

Billy86 wrote: »

I'd agree. I can't stand the Healy Rae's and what essentially amounts to the "f*** you I got mine" mindset of many of their constituents,

Do you think a constituency with fewer "**** you i got mine" constituents exist? if so where?

seachto7

How do people in, say, rural Andalucía tackle these issues? Do they have a drink link or just not bother drinking? The Spanish like a drink as much as the next.

Blazer

Jaelyn Lively Spirits wrote: »

I'd never use it. Travelling all over the area with a busload of drunks before getting to my house is my vision of hell. I don't begrudge it. Urban areas benefit from heavily subsidised transport, so a few minibus routes in rural areas is not exorbitant. I remain unconvinced that many will actually use it though. Time will tell.

You might get the old shift in the back of the bus. Be just like my teen years.
I’m all for it.

Ipso

What company provides the bus service?

Blazer

Ipso wrote: »

What company provides the bus service?

Probably someone linked to the Healy Rae’s no doubt.
Hell they’re probably busy buying hiaces and slapping signs on them as we speak.

Samuel T. Cogley

grahambo wrote: »

I'd LOVE a drink link to the local boozer. It's a 20 min walk to the local cruiser for me (Raheny, Dublin)
I know there is a Nite Link service from Dublin City centre out to the suburbs, but it's not the same. I want to be picked up from the Pub at at 11pm and dropped to my front door without having to pay a Taxi man!!!! :mad:

This is the best bit:


Squeaky wheel gets the oil and all that! :rolleyes:

What you do in St Annes park is up to you.

NickNickleby

Mackerel and Avocado Sandwich wrote: »

There’s a taxi rank right outside the Raheny Inn you lazy get

I think the point being made is about the service being subsidised by public money.

I've used the Nitelink from town a few times, and found it to be great, and much cheaper than taxis. Given the distances some people in the country would have to travel for a bit of socialising, I'd say taxi fares would be absolutely prohibitive. So, while the taxi drivers have missed a great opportunity, affordable transport is definitely justified, and even more so for those living alone. Hopefully, the free travel passes will be accepted on these services.

Let's see if the Healy-Rae's claim credit for this development. Or more likely , will they enter the transport business. Just in case they aren't making enough from the plant hire to the council.

Billy86

qwerty ui op wrote: »

Do you think a constituency with fewer "**** you i got mine" constituents exist? if so where?

In about 25 other counties.

qwerty ui op

Billy86 wrote: »

In about 25 other counties.

Well, if a specific region stands out as particularly selfless let me know and we'll see what gems that region has given us down through the years

Hector Bellend

Talk about an irish solution to an irish problem

NickNickleby

Mint Sauce wrote: »

1st world problems!



Yes the major cities should have major transport, but rural areas at least deserve some kind of local bus service. Dont think there is a need for a through the night one, and as said, cant see any set up working as described, that a couple of local taxi drivers cant do them selves.

I'd suggest that is spectacularly NOT a first world problem. My son has lived in Tokyo for years and he says you can set your watch by the train's arrival and departure. Although, in honesty, apparently the buses can be held up in traffic, but the VAST majority of commuters use the train.

I've given up using the local bus for going into town on a Saturday night, after standing at the bus stop while the phone app told me that two buses had come and gone. They had alright, but they took a shortcut and avoided about 3km of the route - I saw this happen, they turned left rather than right at the roundabout beside the bus stop. On both occasions I had to wave down a taxi. So, now the taxi drivers get my business rather than DB. (Notwithstanding the fact that I use the Nitelink on the same nights!)

In my earlier post I mentioned that the taxi drivers had missed a trick there, perhaps they'll be prompted to try something now. If so, it might turn out to be a real win-win for everyone.

Buford T. Justice XIX

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

That's exactly what it is... same reason why the FF/FG spats have intensified recently, and why the decision on locking out the College Green area to traffic has apparently been deferred for a while.

Leo must be fancying his chances at the polls this year and it wouldn't do to piss off the traditional FG rural and well-heeled urban voter beforehand.

On the actual topic... it's ridiculous! Providing a free shuttle bus for rural dwellers because they "need" to be able to get to/from the pub is a joke and shows how far we've to go regarding the obsession with drink in this country.

By all means go have a pint in your local, but plan ahead for how you'll get home, or (shock/horror) don't drink that night if you're relying on the car.

This backwards parochial gombeenism just pulls the entire country back.

I agree with you but when you see subsidised bus services in cities every night providing the same service with no discussion about gombeenism, you start to question the narrative being championed.

But a small trial for one night of the week in a limited number of rural areas and there's uproar.

Do as I say and not as I do seems to spring to mind.

Mrsmum

I live in Dublin but think it's a great idea and hopes it works out. Not just for going to pubs but for older people to have independence to go to events etc. Even lovely for a couple to catch the bus when going for a meal in their local town so they both can have a few drinks. Or teenagers could meet their friends in town for a few hours at the weekend saving their parents from being on the road nonstop dropping them off maybe ten miles away and collecting again which can be awkward if younger children are in bed. If it works I think the Healy Raes will have pushed Ross into providing a good service for all the chosen counties and maybe all round the country later. Good on them.

highdef

Is there anywhere on the net that gives details of the area's that will be covered, in detail?

GoneHome

highdef wrote: »

Is there anywhere on the net that gives details of the area's that will be covered, in detail?

www.locallink.ie

highdef

GoneHome wrote: »

www.locallink.ie

That link doesn't work. This one does... https://locallink.ie

Also, can you provide a more specific link as I don't see any details as to whether my area will be included?

GoneHome

highdef wrote: »

That link doesn't work. This one does... https://locallink.ie

Also, can you provide a more specific link as I don't see any details as to whether my area will be included?

There's a drop down menu on the "local links" tab at the top just select your county/area from there and it gives the specific routes, n.b. it might not have the updated late night options on their timetable yet as they're not coming into operation until June

highdef

GoneHome wrote: »

There's a drop down menu on the "local links" tab at the top just select your county/area from there and it gives the specific routes, n.b. it might not have the updated late night options on their timetable yet as they're not coming into operation until June

That's my point. No point in putting up a generic link if the information I'm looking for is not contained therein. Appreciate the attempt to help but better to answer the query in a better way.