THE lack of a bus stop for patients from West Clare accessing the Outpatients Department in Ennis has been described the Cathaoirleach of the district as “a bit of a miss”.

Councillor Cillian Murphy made his remarks at the meeting of the district committee last week when he called for collaboration with the Ennis district and the Roads Section to ensure a stop is installed.

He said he had been contacted by someone who needs to use public transport to access the facility, which opened last year at the Westpoint Retail Park on the Kilrush Road.

“What we need is a little joined up thinking,” Councillor Murphy said.

“It took long enough to get the Outpatients Department opened up there in the first place. Having no bus stop to serve patients from West Clare is a bit of a miss.”

Councillor Gabriel Keating supported the motion and added a bus shelter is also necessary.

“At the moment, we have an excellent bus service to Kilkee,” he remarked. “It’s like the line in the song, “Are you right there, Michael?” I agree with the request to put in this bus stop at the Outpatients Department and a bus shelter is also needed. That’s most important in this climate.”

Senior Executive Officer (SEO) John O’Malley updated the meeting, saying the request is being worked on.

“We are liaising with the Ennis Municipal District, because this location is within that area,” he said.

Councillor Murphy acknowledged that cooperation with officials in Ennis is needed.

“I accept that delivery is not in our hands,” he said. “This is an issue that affects West Clare though and it could fall between two stools, so we do need to keep it on the agenda.”