The population of Summerhill County Meath is 947 people as of Census data 2022*1. However this doesn't include increases that are happening as of 2025, there is at this moment five building sites in Summerhill. One of these is at the back of Castlelawns which is to become a nursing home. The other four are housing estates, not forgetting about the many single private houses being built on the outskirts of Summerhill. Two new building projects are due to start in late 2025 early 2026 both of them are supposed to be housing estates. This makes me believe that Summerhill population is going to rise by between 15 to 25 percent. If those percentages are right the services we currently have wont be sufficient. The local schools in the area are already bursting at the seams, this will mean that students not able to gain a place in the local school will need to be dropped to another school outside the district , some of these students parents may not be able to afford a car which will result in the need of affordable public transportation.
As my petition has reached 501 , I can say with a certainty that Summerhill has loudly said that we need public transportation services going in multiple directions. Buses to Navan are on reduced services. Our bus to Dublin isn't efficient , it doesn't always arrive on time and if you need to get to an appointment in the middle of the day you have to get a bus at 6am or 7 am. People that cant drive shouldn't be penalised, those who cant afford a car or a taxi to get to medical appointments or even to do their weekly shopping or go on errands need affordable public transportation services in their area.
The green agenda being pushed by the government highlights the need for public transportation services , they dont want people driving their cars into the city centre but there isn't sufficient buses here. They want people to car share but the number of assaults in Ireland are high.
''The overall number of persons recorded as victims of Attempts/Threats to Murder, Assaults, Harassments & Related offences fell by 2% to 5,289 between Q1 2023 and Q1 2024. Six in ten (60%) victims were male in Q1 2024 compared with four in ten (40%) for female victims. The number of male victims rose by 2% to 3,161 while the number of female victims fell by 9% to 2,128.'' *2
I implore the local representatives and the TDs for our area to make representations on our behalf to highlight the needs for public transportation services and they can use this petition as proof that we stand united in our village.