Cessation of Route 706 : Public Service Obligation Determination

Abstract

On 8th April 2024 Aircoach ceased to operate route 706. This route provided connections from Galway to Dublin City Centre and Dublin Airport. The route also served intermediate stops on route including Ballinasloe, Athlone, and Maynooth. The withdrawal of route 706 has reduced the level of public transport connectivity to the settlements it served. The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of this cessation of services and whether or not there is Public Service Obligation (PSO) requirement for the National Transport Authority (NTA) to procure replacement services, subject to funding.