In recent months, residents and local politicians in Drumcondra expressed mixed reactions to the changes, which will see the Number 11 bus route replaced, with passengers forced to transfer to another bus in the city centre.
The plans include 13 new routes, with 24-hour spines – E1 and E2 – serving areas including Bray, UCD, city centre, Ballymun and Santry.
A new Number 19 bus would replace the old Number 11, and include a link to the airport, with the route terminating at Parnell Street.
However, these changes now look likely to be delayed, with an announcement on the rollout of the new route expected from the NTA tomorrow.
Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon was among those campaigning for a rethink and has launched a petition to “save the number 11”.
“The reason people are really upset is because so many people in Drumcondra, which is a hugely elderly population, rely on that number 11 to go about their business,” he said.
“The idea that they would have to get on the new number 19 and get off in Parnell Square, wait around to get on another bus to get over to the south side of the city. It was just too much of an ask.
“The NTA hadn’t really accessibility-proofed the new design at this particular stop, so I think people were genuinely up in arms.
“I organised the petition that has over 2,000 signatures on it. We wrote to the NTA reminding them of their public duty and responsibility.”
Mr Gannon said people in the area didn’t feel like they were consulted when the new bus plan was in the works.
“Locals thought it would make a vulnerable population more isolated. They were enraged by being dismissed by the NTA,” he said.
“They were being told that they’d been consulted with. Nobody on Home Farm Road or anywhere through Drumcondra seemed to know anything about it. People felt it was unfair.
“This particular route shouldn’t happen. I think there’s a lot of merit to BusConnects as a whole.
“There’s a large number of people with disabilities who use this route just for their basic independence. This route is a bad idea, and we should maintain a standard of service.
“The NTA didn’t really do a good job in terms of processing what would be the implications for the community who use the number 11 service.
“Now, taking the opportunity to suspend this, I hope this is not just an election ploy, but I think it’s more about going back to the drawing board.
“Either provide a service commensurate with what the level already provides across city, or just don’t make the change,” he added.
