Donacarney transport improvements are continuing with new bus stops, bus shelters, and a footpath connection being delivered in the East Meath village.
Cllr Stephen McKee has welcomed the works, which he says form part of Meath County Council’s 2026 Schedule of Works Programme.
A new footpath linking the old Community Centre with the bus stop on the Garra Road, opposite Castle Glen, is also close to completion.
The footpath project has been planned for some time, with Meath County Council previously listing a new pedestrian link between Donacarney Community Centre and the local bus stop among its active travel works.
Earlier this year, plans were also confirmed for two new bus shelters on the Garra Road near Castle Glen.
Improving access to public transport
Cllr McKee said:
“I have lobbied hard for these bus shelters and bus stops for Donacarney on behalf of local residents and I will continue working on the inclusion of more locations as part of the rollout programme so that in time we have bus shelters at every bus top in East Meath in so far as is practically possible.
“I am pleased also that on foot of strong representation I made, the new footpath to link in with the footpath at the Old Community Centre down to the new bus stop on the Garra Road is now close to completion.”
He said continued population growth in East Meath made improved public transport infrastructure increasingly important.
“With the population growth in the area, residents need to be able to access high-quality public transport services and public infrastructure such as footpaths. We need to improve all transport and public services including basic infrastructure such as bus shelters and bus stops.
“The new bus stops on the School Road will serve all local bus service providers including Matthews Coaches and Bus Éireann.”
Further works sought
Meath County Council says it received €500,000 from the National Transport Authority in 2026 for a county-wide Bus Stop Enhancement Programme.
Cllr McKee said further bus shelter locations would still be needed across East Meath.
“There have been a number of bus shelters installed recently across East Meath which I have lobbied for and supported so it is good news to see bus stops in Donacarney now included. The reality is however that we need more and I will continue working on the inclusion of more locations.”
He also said he would continue to press for a footpath between Donacarney and Colpe.
That proposal was raised earlier this year at Laytown-Bettystown Municipal District, with councillors calling for improved pedestrian access between the two areas.
