Car-Sharing Community Scheme To Be Launched On Loop Head Peninsula

A pilot programme which will see an uber style car sharing service launched in the Loop Head Peninsula is finally coming to fruition.

The voluntary initiative aims to connect people in rural communities who don’t have transport, with private drivers within the community who are willing to provide a lift.

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The idea of a car sharing model has been on the cards for some time now, and early last year Clare County Council sought expressions of interest for this project.

After receiving funding from Enterprise Ireland to develop an app, the technology has now come to fruition and Clare Local Lift will now be operated on a pilot basis in the Loop Head area for three months from December.

The idea is that the app would link people who are travelling in any given direction and can offer lifts to passengers, who can also request lifts themselves.

Rural and Community Development Officer, Margaret Cotter says it will be a huge benefit to many people.

The Council’s Rural Development Strategy has acknowledged that if rural communities are to have a future, they need an active growing population, which can access quality public and private services.

Kilkee Fianna Fáil Councillor Cillian Murphy hopes this service can work, but he says it will need buy in from the local community.

This pilot will be headed by Carrigaholt Community Development.

A public meeting is taking place in at the Stella Maris Hotel in Kilkee from 8pm tonight to outline how people can get involved, while a second meeting takes place in Carmody’s in Carrigaholt at the same time on Thursday evening.

Volunteer drivers will need to bring their drivers licence and proof of insurance on the night if they want to sign up, while passengers are also invited to see how the scheme will work.