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The 'Drink Link'

  • 08-05-2018 10:43am
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 15,630 ✭✭✭✭whisky_galore


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

    "A new state-funded 'drink link' bus will service 50 rural communities across Ireland.The bus service will transport rural residents to and from their local pubs between June and December in a bid to tackle rural isolation.
    People can also book a place on one of 30 new flexible routes to be brought to and from social events, such as a game of bingo or bridge, or to the pub.



    The scheme will serve 19 counties including Kerry, Cork, Waterford, Kildare, Wexford and Monaghan and will operate predominately at weekends from 6pm to 11pm.





    The service will be state-subsidised and will operate as an extension as to Local Link service.
    It will cost the government around €450,000.
    The pilot programme will run for six months before each route is assessed."


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Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,732 ✭✭✭BarryD2


    How flexible will it be I wonder? At best, this will assist those lucky enough to live near a larger village or town where services may run to. I'd expect there to be vast swathes of rural Ireland without any service.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,783 ✭✭✭GoneHome


    From the Local Link website - "Our services operate semi flexible routes throughout Limerick and can deviate up to 5 miles to pick passengers up at their own doors", so it seems to be quite flexible in that regard.


  • Registered Users Posts: 28,039 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    What a scam, this is only to try and shut up anyone opposing him, I really question has Shane Ross ever stepped outside the pale. Some counties getting a token gesture, Tipperary one of the largest gets two services both in the south so this is of absolutely no use to anyone north of Cahir the whole way up to laois, no service at all.
    The we have the running times, 6-11, he has absolutely no understanding of rural life, the problem isn't getting out it's getting home, no taxi services, no bus services, no train service. What's everyone not on a route to do. Also nobody has any public transport to get to jobs in the morning so he's drink link is of 0 use to most of rural Ireland. I hope it's called out for what it is, a scam.

    Easy for Shane to dictate to the rest of the country with a Luas outside his door where he can drink Dutch gold and get wherever he wants on public service.

    DChv_Wdr_W0_AEb_H2_N.jpg

    Hypocrisy of the highest order from Shane Ross


  • Registered Users Posts: 11,247 ✭✭✭✭salmocab


    What a scam, this is only to try and shut up anyone opposing him, I really question has Shane Ross ever stepped outside the pale. Some counties getting a token gesture, Tipperary one of the largest gets two services both in the south so this is of absolutely no use to anyone north of Cahir the whole way up to laois, no service at all.
    The we have the running times, 6-11, he has absolutely no understanding of rural life, the problem isn't getting out it's getting home, no taxi services, no bus services, no train service. What's everyone not on a route to do. Also nobody has any public transport to get to jobs in the morning after living in the country so he's drink link is of 0 use to most of rural Ireland. I hope it's called out for what it is, a scam.

    Easy for Shane to dictate to the rest of the country with a Luas outside his door where he can drink Dutch gold and get wherever he wants on public service.

    DChv_Wdr_W0_AEb_H2_N.jpg

    Hypocrisy of the highest order from Shane Ross

    Whilst your right about Ross, he’s a waste of tax money what do you want for rural Ireland that will solve this issue?


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,249 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    I wouldn't be his biggest fan either, but... they say they accepted every proposed route, and it's a pilot!


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  • Registered Users Posts: 28,039 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    salmocab wrote: »
    Whilst your right about Ross, he’s a waste of tax money what do you want for rural Ireland that will solve this issue?

    A proper public transport service, this isn't a solution. If you want to tackle it fast, make it a stipulation on taxi/hackeny licences that all areas have access to transport 24/7 where no bus or train service exists and those details are published. If we have to subsidize drivers for quite nights to be on call so be it, everyone gets home all the time just like in the city's.
    It's needs to be a full country plan, for example if there's a big concert in Dublin Irish Rail will put on special trains. The one going south stops in Limerick junction and Cork so again no use to anyone in rural Ireland even though it passes plenty of stations to let people off.

    The country is in a jocker due to the third world transport network, a good one would even solve a lot of the housing problem in Dublin, if it took 30 minutes to get from Limerick to Dublin on high speed trains you wouldn't have a housing crisis.


  • Registered Users Posts: 10,142 ✭✭✭✭Hurrache


    What a scam, this is only to try and shut up anyone opposing him, I really question has Shane Ross ever stepped outside the pale. Some counties getting a token gesture, Tipperary one of the largest gets two services both in the south so this is of absolutely no use to anyone north of Cahir the whole way up to laois, no service at all.

    Can't blame Ross on that one, it's due to the fact that nobody applied to operate in those counties. He said this morning that every provider that applied to operate the service was given permission, and those places with none is because there was no applications there.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 47,975 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    my wife grew up 4km from the nearest town, and my parents in law are still in the same house. most of their neighbours have no link to the countryside, apart from simply wanting to live there. it's their choice to live where they do, why should we be subsidising a bus service for them?

    i've no issue whatsoever with providing a service to people who do have cause to live where they do, such as the farmers who are neighbours of theirs.


  • Registered Users Posts: 28,039 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    my wife grew up 4km from the nearest town, and my parents in law are still in the same house. most of their neighbours have no link to the countryside, apart from simply wanting to live there. it's their choice to live where they do, why should we be subsidising a bus service for them?

    i've no issue whatsoever with providing a service to people who do have cause to live where they do, such as the farmers who are neighbours of theirs.

    Swing that around and why should anyone outside the pale subsidize the Luas, Dublin bus, Irish Rail etc. It's their choice to live in the city. I paid over €90 for a same day return ticket last week and the journey took about as long as it takes to go from one end of the dart line to the other.

    My issue is there is no transport outside Friday and Saturday night, and Ross's scheme runs on Friday and Saturday when there's isn't a problem.

    This lower limit is deadly in the morning time Monday to Friday and there are no services for anyone in rural Ireland. It affects them more than anyone else. Ross doesn't give a crap though not something that will ever effect him with a Luas outside his door.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 47,975 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    Swing that around and why should anyone outside the pale subsidize the Luas, Dublin bus, Irish Rail etc. It's their choice to live in the city.
    one simple answer is that dublin and the other cities generate the tax revenue in ireland. i think only six counties in total take in more in tax than they spend locally. dublin is quite literally subsidising most of the rest of the country.

    anyway, it wasn't meant to be an urban vs. rural thing. we should be encouraging people to live in or near towns and villages, but when i go cycling around north county dublin, i'm seeing a lot of one off houses (newly built or being built) which are nowhere near any services, condemning the owners to a life of car driving. why do we still allow this?


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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,601 ✭✭✭Nermal


    Swing that around and why should anyone outside the pale subsidize the Luas, Dublin bus, Irish Rail etc.

    They don't.


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,229 ✭✭✭LeinsterDub


    Is this service free?


  • Registered Users Posts: 28,039 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    one simple answer is that dublin and the other cities generate the tax revenue in ireland. i think only six counties in total take in more in tax than they spend locally. dublin is quite literally subsidising most of the rest of the country.

    anyway, it wasn't meant to be an urban vs. rural thing. we should be encouraging people to live in or near towns and villages, but when i go cycling around north county dublin, i'm seeing a lot of one off houses (newly built or being built) which are nowhere near any services, condemning the owners to a life of car driving. why do we still allow this?

    Yes because they won't share the jobs or put any transport infrastructure
    outside of Dublin, back to high speed trains it's a little island it shouldn't be as difficulty and expensive to get around.

    It is a rural versus city problem, two different ways of life, Ross is trying to bring in a new limit that will effect drivers with no access to public transport for getting to work or socialising. This doesn't affect people who live in city's. They have alternatives.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,486 ✭✭✭Mountjoy Mugger


    Is this service free?

    If you are entitled to free travel, yes. Otherwise you pay a euro or two.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,521 Mod ✭✭✭✭Amirani


    Yes because they won't share the jobs or put any transport infrastructure
    outside of Dublin.

    Private enterprises don't want to operate in rural Ireland, and with justifiable reason. There's no obligation on them to "share the jobs".


  • Registered Users Posts: 28,039 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    Amirani wrote: »
    Private enterprises don't want to operate in rural Ireland, and with justifiable reason. There's no obligation on them to "share the jobs".

    When you have a housing crisis due to overpopulation in one particular area it's time to look at alternatives.

    I think your wrong there is an obligation especially with public and semi state jobs, they don't need to be in Dublin.
    Private infrastructure will move outisde Dublin if the transport infrastructure is there.


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,229 ✭✭✭LeinsterDub


    When you have a housing crisis due to overpopulation in one particular area it's time to look at alternatives.

    I think your wrong there is an obligation especially with public and semi state jobs, they don't need to be in Dublin.
    Private infrastructure will move outisde Dublin if the transport infrastructure is there.

    The alternatives should be towns and villages not fields in the middle of no where.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,189 ✭✭✭howiya


    Yes because they won't share the jobs or put any transport infrastructure
    outside of Dublin, back to high speed trains it's a little island it shouldn't be as difficulty and expensive to get around.

    It is a rural versus city problem, two different ways of life, Ross is trying to bring in a new limit that will effect drivers with no access to public transport for getting to work or socialising. This doesn't affect people who live in city's. They have alternatives.

    Shane Ross isn't trying to bring in a new limit. He's changing the penalties for being over the limit


  • Registered Users Posts: 15,853 ✭✭✭✭Spanish Eyes


    Gas the way the Nanny State is bringing in MUP to stop us drinking, but there we are now, bringing a bus to every boreen in the country to help them have a drink.

    But I wonder are the publicans contributing at all to this? If not they can just shut up right now.

    I agree with a pp. And I have very rural connections too for the record.... if you want to live in an isolated place that's your choice.


  • Registered Users Posts: 28,039 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    Deedsie wrote: »
    People choose to live in the middle of nowhere and then complain that there are no services to get them to and from the pub. Why is it the states problem? Move into a town or village or maybe give up the booze.

    Why is it the states problem if they have a beer and drive home in the middle of nowhere. Let the wildlings to it.

    Being put off the road can have a life changing impact if you live in rural Ireland versus the impact on people with access to public transport. Leave it alone until you fix the underlying problem
    Sort out public transport first then you can have 0 tolerance. It just needs orginaston we have the infrastructure less the bullet trains.

    50 rural routes, seriously, has he any idea how many rurals there are.

    Nothing but time waisting by Ross trying to dodge real work.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 359 ✭✭Experience_day


    Shane Ross has to be one of the most dislikeable people going. Also vaguely corrupt, but probably more than likely just retarded.


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,189 ✭✭✭howiya


    Why is it the states problem if they have a beer and drive home in the middle of nowhere. Let the wildlings to it.

    Being put off the road can have a life changing impact if you live in rural Ireland versus the impact on people with access to public transport.

    So you're in favour of drink driving?

    If people can't afford to be put off the road, why would they do something that has the potential to have them banned from driving?

    It has nothing to do with access to public transport. If you don't do the crime you won't do the time.


  • Registered Users Posts: 28,039 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    I'm in favour of sensible enforceable laws and for safe ways for all people to commute. That's everything from better zebra crossing lighting to catching drunk drivers.

    I've no beef with pint and a half man.


  • Registered Users Posts: 28,039 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    Deedsie wrote: »
    Just tell us how we can fix rural transport in Tipperary? That's where you said you were from I think? 63% and increasing people in Ireland live in urban areas already.

    I said 2 routes in the south of the country, it doesn't even scratch the surface, some counties have nothing.
    You need joined up national transport planning and subsidize taxi drivers to be available on nights there would normally be no cover.
    Rural taxis aren't like Dublin there all individuals, in Dublin there can be a lot of drivers available and one of them takes the pick up, this doesn't happen outisde the citys. Maybe country level taxi groups all working on the one system, something like Hailo.
    Also bus routes that run more than 1 time a day.
    Back to my example about getting out of Dublin after a concert, Irish Rail running trains after them but only go city to city nobody living in-between can get off. That's a failure of a set up.


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,249 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    I'm in favour of sensible enforceable laws and for safe ways for all people to commute. That's everything from better zebra crossing lighting to catching drunk drivers.

    I've no beef with pint and a half man.
    People could just go out, and have a pint and a few erdingers alcohol free (which is what I see regularly in my local). I'd rather not share the road with people over the limit driving when I am complying with the law and walking home from the pub. Ironically for the publicans/ drink driver campaigners hiding behind rural isolation, I know people who won't go out to the pub because they don't feel safe walking home because of the fear of drink drivers on the roads. Actually I know a couple of oap's who won't drive at night because of it too!

    I live in a rural area, outside a village - I don't feel it is my "entitlement" to either drink drive or have a bus. I made my choice where to live with my eyes wide open to this (and other potential issues)!




  • This thread resembles a conversation with members of the occupy movement

    Point
    Logical counter point
    Yeah well, what about......... (changes topic)


  • Registered Users Posts: 28,039 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    Wouldn't Uber solve a lot of issues, letting locals make a few quid and solve the whole problem.
    I know for city's the taxi drivers don't want it but for the countryside it makes perfect sense, a lot more than this sham of a drink link.


  • Registered Users Posts: 28,039 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    Deedsie wrote: »
    Hailo MyTaxi is a private company, do you not think if it was a viable business MyTaxi would already be active in these rural areas? You make the choice to live down a boreen, off a side road 10 km from your closest town, you can not expect to be provided with public transport.

    I am 100% for investing in Public transport. But linking towns and cities where the majority of people live and that is where the majority of money should be spent.

    I am from and live in a rural town in the midwest

    The towns don't have public transport either, it's not as easy as saying move to the nearest village or town. Invest in joining up the towns or just give us Uber and we'll do it ourselves.
    Even with the 50% funding for this scheme is not a sustainable business. That's obvious from the extremely low take up.


  • Registered Users Posts: 8,229 ✭✭✭LeinsterDub


    The towns don't have public transport either, it's not as easy as saying move to the nearest village or town. Invest in joining up the towns or just give us Uber and we'll do it ourselves.
    Even with the 50% funding for this scheme is not a sustainable business. That's obvious from the extremely low take up.

    If you live in the town you can walk. What does joining up the towns mean?


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  • Registered Users Posts: 28,039 ✭✭✭✭drunkmonkey


    If you live in the town you can walk. What does joining up the towns mean?

    If your trying to get from one town to the other.


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