Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has today welcomed confirmation from the National Transport Authority (NTA) that changes will be made to the L14 bus route, addressing key concerns raised by residents in Bray and delivering a much-needed transport link to the LUAS line in Cherrywood.
“The introduction of the new L14 route, running between Southern Cross and Palermo in Little Bray, was a positive development,” said Deputy Brady.
“However, I had been contacted by a large number of residents in the Palermo area, and by parents from St Peter’s School, raising serious concerns about the safety and nuisance issues caused by the buses terminating at a busy junction right beside the school.”
Residents reported that idling engines at the terminus caused noise and air pollution, while the location of the stop created traffic and safety hazards in a heavily used area, particularly at school times.
“In addition to these concerns, the rollout of the new network saw the cessation of the Finnegan’s Bus service, which had provided an essential connection between Bray and the LUAS. That left a major gap in our public transport infrastructure, with no direct link from Bray to the LUAS at Cherrywood,” Brady added.
In response, Deputy Brady engaged directly with the NTA, proposing a practical solution that would both address the safety issues in Palermo and restore a critical transport link for the area.
“I proposed that the L14 should no longer terminate in Palermo, but rather pass through the area for pickups and drop-offs, before continuing on to Cherrywood, where it would terminate near the LUAS line,” he explained.
“This would address the concerns of residents and school users in Palermo, while creating a fully integrated bus-LUAS connection from Bray—something that’s been badly needed since the removal of the Finnegan’s service.”
The NTA has now confirmed that it will implement these changes from 15 June, and Deputy Brady welcomed the move as “a victory for common sense, community voices, and joined-up transport planning.”
“I want to thank the residents and school community who raised these issues with me and stood together to demand a solution. This is a positive outcome—one that improves both local safety and connectivity,” he said.
“I’ll continue to work with the NTA and local stakeholders to ensure the rollout of the new routing is smooth and meets the needs of the public.” ENDS
