Additional government support is urgently required in order to ensure a vital community car service in Leitrim remains operational.
That's the message that was delivered to three local TDs recently who met with representatives and service users of the Leitrim Volunteer Centre who have provided over 100 journeys for people who have np access to public transport or require need alternative methods of travel.
The service is already significantly over-subscribed with over 30 volunteers currently driving their own cars to appointments not only in Leitrim but across the country and the price of fuel is also adding an extra challenge for the scheme.
The service is seeking new volunteers to come on board and especially people with certain skills such as first aid, health and safety, as well as a full-time coordinator.
Niall Speak is the development officer with the Leitrim Volunteer centre.
He says the service has made a huge difference to people's lives:
"This is uniquely Leitrim, it was set up initally because we discovered that unfortunately public transport and generally people trying to get to places and Dublin and Galway and more elderly people in rural Leitrim, it's extremely difficult.
It had made a massive difference to many people's lives because in some cases they are getting two days' notice to go to Dublin and they don't have the time or the means to get there.
I think over the 110 appointments I don't think there have been any missed, we've been able to accommodate all of them."
You can hear Niall's full interview here:
