Waterford City Councillor Seamus O'Donnell has hit out at the State funded 'drink-link' calling it the "greatest joke" and a "stunt," by Miniter for Transport Shane Ross.
It was announced over the weekend that a state-funded'drink-link' bus will service 50 rural routes across Ireland.
As part of this scheme, County Waterford residents are set to benefit from a weekend bus service that will drop them at their local pub and return them home at the end of the night.
The State-subsidised bus service will transport rural residents across 19 counties to their locals between the hours of 6 pm and 11 pm.
The scheme is aimed at diminishing fears over rural isolation ahead of the new drink driving laws and it is implemented in from June to December, costing €450,000.
The 3 routes for Waterford were announced this morning and will include a service in West Waterford, stopping at Tallow, Lismore, Cappaquinn, Helvick, rural environment of Ballyduff and Dungarvan.
Speaking to Eamon on Déise Today Cllr O Donnell hit back at Minster Ross's proposal and said:
"There would-be nobody coming into the pub at 8 pm at night, it would more like 10:15 pm or 10:30 when people go out, this is when the bus will be going home again, It makes no sense to me."
The Old Parish Councillor said he has no issue with people drinking one and a half pints and then driving.
"I see no problem in drinking and driving in the pubs, I couldn't see any harm in anyone drinking one and a half pints , your out in the middle of the country your not out on a major road.
No one is going to get killed on by-roads with one and a half pints."
Listen to Cllr O'Donnell interview with Eamon below.
https://soundcloud.com/wlrfmwaterford/councillor-seamus-odonnell-spoke-to-eamon-about-the-proposed-drink-link-bus
