There's a 60% reduction in the number of buses facilitating patients and visitors attending Portiuncula Hospital in recent weeks.
That's according to Roscommon Galway Deputy Denis Naughten who says the huge reduction is a direct result of the decision by the National Transport Authority not to replace the lost Bus Éireann services.
The decision by Bus Éireann to cancel the popular Galway-Dublin bus services at the end of July was heavily criticised as a major blow for rural transport.
Deputy Naughten says analysis of the current Citylink commercial route 763 between Galway and Dublin, which takes the free travel pass, shows a drop from 226 buses a week, to the current offering of just 84 buses over the same time period.
He says the National Transport Authority should be told to properly subsidise the route and allow Bus Eireann to reinstate it.
A petition by Sinn Fein to save restore the route was handed into official this week, with approximately 1800 signatures gathered in support of the service.
The Independent TD says Minister Eamon Ryan also has a role in making sure that these services are increased rather than decimated.
