Postgraduate Research Opportunity

POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY

Project Title: To evaluate the Local and Rural Transport provided by Local Linkand its impact on the older person in the County area of Roscommon established by the National Transport Authority in January 2015.

Project Description:

Local Link Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon is one of 17 Regional Transport Co-ordination Units established by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in January 2015. It is responsible for all Local and Rural transport in the Region. There are 80 weekly scheduled services which provide a house to house demand responsive service. Over, 72,000 passengers availed of Local Link Services in the region in 2015. Of these, 15 are dedicated to the Older Person services. Local Link also provide a Volunteer Community Car Scheme in County Roscommon and County Leitrim. Local Link have a SLA (Service Level Agreement) in place with the HSE for Sligo, Leitrim and for Renal Dialysis Services in Sligo, Leitrim, North Roscommon, South Donegal and West Cavan. There are two PSO (Public Service Order) Services provided on a six and seven-day week daily scheduled fixed route service providing connectivity to local towns and villages. Local Link also provide a Volunteer Community Care Scheme in County Roscommon and County Leitrim. The service is provided in the Dysart, Brideswell, Athleague, Castlerea, Tiobahane and Boyle areas of Roscommon and Manorhamilton, Drumshambo, Drumkeeran, Rossinver, Kinlough and Carrick-on-Shannon (Links, 2016). Local Link have a SLA (Service Level Agreement) in place with the HSE for Sligo Leitrim and for Renal Dialysis Services in Sligo, Leitrim, North Roscommon, South Donegal and West Cavan.

This proposal is focusing on why people are availing of this service and to which amenities they are enabled to attend as a result of transport provision. It will explore the following issues: The Family; Culture; Quality of Life; Finance; Loneliness; Health both physical and mental. It is important to gather this data and analyse same so as to authenticate the Models in existence and their impact on the quality of life for older people. This analysis will inform ongoing public policy around Local Link transport for Service Users in rural and urban areas.

Duration of Project: 21 Months

Funding Agency:President Seed Fund

Type of Degree Offered:MSc

Minimum Qualifications/Experience Necessary/Any Other Requirements:Undergraduate Honours degree in Health, Economics; Nursing; Social Science, or related disciplines.

Research Supervisors: Dr Mary McDonnell/Naughton; Ms. Lorraine Gaffney; Ms. Camilla Kelly.

For further information please contact: Dr Mary McDonnell/Naughton

Applications: Download Application Form at

Or available from the Susan Carroll, Office of Research, Tel: 090 64 83061, Email:

Closing date for receipt of completed application forms is 5pm 12th October, 2017.

Please submit completed application;

By Post: Susan Carroll, Office of Research, Athlone Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Athlone Co. Westmeath

By Email: