A Co Monaghan councillor has raised her concerns over a local road closure that is seriously impacting connectivity in Smithboro.
Cllr Sinead Flynn says the village has been completely cut off during the N54 road closure, with no bus service operating at all.
Cllr Flynn says the decision has abandoned a rural community already struggling with rising fuel costs and a deepening cost-of-living crisis.
She told Northern Sound that many residents rely entirely on public transport and have been left without any way to reach essential services, work or healthcare.
As a result of this, the Sinn Fein representative is calling on TII to immediately allow Local Link to service Smithboro.
Cllr Flynn described the situation as "unacceptable" and a clear example of "government neglect of rural Ireland."
Cllr Flynn told Northern Sound: "Residents from Smithboro have been left stranded during the N54 road closure with no bus service at all in operation and not alternatives being offered to them. In the middle of a cost of living crisis rural communities cannot continue to be abandoned like this. People here in Smithboro deserve to have a proper public transport system and they deserve to have that in operation today."
