A pilot initiative set up in Co Kildare to provide essential transport for those facing mobility challenges is proving a huge success with significant demand for the service.
County Kildare Leader Partnership, which set up the 'community car' scheme, said it is helping people who need transport to hospital and healthcare appointments, as well as community and social events.
"The idea was born out of older people expressing their views and their concerns about what was needed," explained Kildare Leader Partnership CEO Karl Duffy.
"Older people want to continue to participate in society and they also have needs such as having to attend medical appointments and so on," he said.
This pilot initiative, in partnership with GoCar, Kildare County Council, the Department of Social Protection and the HSE, serves residents within a 10km radius of Kildare town. Essentially, it is a free taxi.
It started operating before Christmas.
"We decided to test the water but very quickly the demand has gone up and up, and we're responding to it," said Mr Duffy.
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Booking a lift with the service is simple with a dedicated phoneline and receptionist to arrange the journey.
Individuals are picked up at their door and dropped home afterwards.
"We've a number of drivers through the community employment scheme and we also have volunteers," Mr Duffy said.
For many people, particularly those living in rural areas or experiencing reduced mobility, accessing essential services and attending appointments can be a challenge.
A service like this aims to bridge the gap that exists by offering a convenient and accessible transport solution, according to Christy Morrison who is a community employment scheme supervisor working on the service.

"We're taking bookings around three weeks in advance at the moment and we have a waiting list and people on standby for certain days," said Mr Morrison.
"We're bringing people to hospitals in Kilkenny, Portlaoise and Dublin, we're bringing them to GP appointments and to visit relatives in nursing homes and hospitals," he said.
"We recently started bringing one lady for her chemotherapy sessions.
"She was so worried about getting to them and now she's delighted with the service. It makes such a difference," he said.
"I've worked in so many projects in my life but this job is far by the most rewarding," he added.
Hopes to expand project across Co Kildare
County Kildare Leader Partnership, which facilitates a number of community projects, hopes to expand the service across the county in the coming months.
"We always knew that there was a need here and we always knew that once the service got going, it would be used.
"Our challenge now is to try and respond to all the requests that are coming in," said Mr Duffy.
"There are also costs to be able to run a service and to offer it freely to people so sustainability of the service is the challenge now," he added.
There is, of course, a gain in terms of tacking climate change with this new service too.
Paula O'Rourke, Climate Action Team Coordinator at Kildare County Council, said the community car service is an example of how small changes can make a big difference.
"This is an electric car, so basically, it's using power off the grid which is created from wind or solar, for example," she said.

"It's also really good when it comes to being able to share a service, rather than having everybody have their own cars, which again, brings down our emissions.
"But besides all that, it's really good for everybody's health to look at alternative ways of transport, whether that be public transport or shared services and it's a very small example of how we can all make a difference.
"If you want to live sustainably and have a future that's going to look bright for everybody, we have to play our part," she added.
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