This article is from page 14 of the 2012-07-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
PRESSURE is mounting on An Post to bankroll a mid-week bus service for the people of Corofin who lost their local post office last week.
Following requests from members of the local community, Clare Accessible Transport have now started a Saturday morning service connecting Corofin and Kilfenora, one of the closest post offices to Corofin.
However, North Clare Senator Martin Conway (FG) met with offi cials at An Post last week and asked that the postal agency supply a midweek bus service to ease the pressure on locals.
“Many elderly people in Corofin and many of those on social welfare do not have transport and they will find it difficult to get to Kilfenora.
“I’m calling for An Post to provide bus transportation on a Tuesday and Friday for people without transportation, until an alternative premises can be found in Corofin,” said Senator Conway.
“An unfortunate set of circumstances led to the resignation of the postmaster in Corofin and to the closure of the post office.
“I acknowledge that An Post is doing its best, but the connectivity issue between the villages needs to be addressed,” he said.
Clare Accessible Transport hosted their first Saturday morning return service between Corofin and Kilfenora last week.
The not-for-profit organisation has committed to the service on a shortterm basis but could extend the service if required.
“The service leaves from outside Bofey Quinns in Corofin at 11.30am on Saturday and returns from Kilfenora at 12.15pm.
“We have a number of members in the Corofin area and they asked us to look at introducing this service,” said a spokesperson.
The Saturday morning bus service between Corofin and Kilfenora is open to anyone but users are asked to pay a € 10 yearly subscription to Clare Accessible Transport.
Following that, anyone with a travel pass can use the service for free, while a € 2 charge applies for the over 16s, and a € 1 charge applies for children under 16 years of age.
Children aged under five can use the service for free. Pre-booking is essential by ringing 061 924375.
Meanwhile, An Post have introduced an external postbox in Corofin to replace the posting facility in the Corofin Post Office and have confirmed that mail collections will continue at normal times.
It is still not clear when regular post office service will be resumed in Corofin.