Minister Alan Kelly told not to interfere with Ring-A-Link bus service.

 

 

Minister of State Alan Kelly has been told to keep his hands off the Ring-A-Link rural transport service in South Tipperary.

It follows reports that control of the community run schemes is to be handed over to local councils.

The Department of Transport report is said to recommend the abolition of the 35 community based companies with eight regional authorities to oversee the new regime.

Individual County Councils would then be responsible for the scheme in their area.

However South Tipp Deputy Mattie McGrath says there is no need to interfere with the Ring-A-Link project which is operating very successfully in South Tipp, Kilkenny and Carlow.

For his part, Alan Kelly – the Minister with responsibility for Public Transport – says he will ensure that any changes are for the better.