Chester T. Dean Fingal County Council brought together volunteer drivers, local councilors and representatives of Local Link and GoCar partners in Skerries last week to celebrate the relaunch and expansion of the ‘Community Car’ service.
This valuable service provides elevators for seniors and people with limited mobility so they can get to essential medical appointments, pharmacy visits and shopping. Community Car also takes people to church services, the post office and social gatherings. The service is a lifesaver for those who cannot travel alone or have difficulty accessing public transport.
The community car service was the first of its kind to be implemented by a local authority in Ireland in 2019, initially serving Howth and Skerries, providing a vital lifeline for elderly and disabled people.
The Community Car will be based in Skerries but Fingal County Council, in partnership with Local Link and GoCar, are delighted to now extend the provision of this service to new areas of the county to also include journeys from Donabate, Portrane , Rush and Lusk.
Just contact Local Link by phone or email to book a trip and the volunteers take care of the rest, getting you door to door safely. With 20 volunteers already signed up, there’s sure to be someone who can get you where you need to go.
The Community Car was launched to fulfill the Rural Transport Schemes mission of “providing a nationwide quality community public transport system in rural Ireland that meets local needs”. Offering closer ties to the community helps combat the problem of rural social isolation and with volunteers piloting the experience, the program also provides a chance for members from all parts of the community to connect with each other. to others.
David Storey, director of environment, climate action and action travel at Fingal County Council, said: ‘It’s wonderful to see Community Car expanding its reach of service into new areas and growing in popularity and we hope it will continue to provide comfort and assistance to those who use it. Initiatives like this are key to the inclusion and mobility of those who are less well connected to public transport networks or whose additional mobility needs make traveling by public transport too difficult.
The outgoing Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Seána O Rodaigh said, “I am delighted that Fingal County Council is expanding the community car service. It was very successful in Skerries and with the support of volunteers and our partners from Local Link and GoCar
“I’m sure it will continue to bring great relief and positivity to the lives of those who use it. I encourage anyone who might need a helping hand getting to their appointments and back to calling the line and trying a trip.
Miriam McKenna of Local Link said: “Local Link is delighted to continue its involvement with Community Car. The expansion to Donabate, Portrane, Rush and Lusk along with the continuation of the Skerries service is a very positive development for Fingal’s seniors and we look forward to welcoming our new passengers on board.
An electric vehicle was provided for this project by Ireland’s leading car-sharing brand, GoCar. GoCar offers cars and vans for hire by the hour across Ireland. By the end of the year, GoCar will have more than 700 carsharing locations nationwide, with more than 900 vehicles available for rental per hour. Other vehicles are expected to be added based on growing public demand.
Paul McNeice of GoCar said: “We are delighted to see the expansion of our partnership with Fingal County Council and Local Link. We are committed to ‘open mobility for all’ and the community car is a great example of how we live these values. Car sharing in Ireland is on the rise and as a result we are determined to make it as accessible as possible to consumers across the country. »
Members wishing to book travel via Community Car can call Local Link on 1800 303 707 or email [email protected]
