Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I confirm that I am within the Leinster House complex at the moment. I have a few questions that I would like to put to Ms Graham of the National Transport Authority and then I would like to ask some additional questions of Mr. Walsh of Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

I thank Ms Graham for her engagement with us today. Quite a serious issue developed in County Clare overnight. We heard that a well used and well supported bus route in east Clare is being pulled. The route 345 Scariff to Limerick service is being overhauled and enhanced, but along with that enhancement the NTA has directed that an add-on service provided up to 3 January on Saturdays to Tulla, Bodyke, O’Callaghan’s Mills and Broadford, the four largest villages in east Clare, will not continue. In the Government's July jobs stimulus, the plan was to enhance rural transport, and there has been investment

There was good news today for west Clare, where the NTA and Local Link will enhance Bus Éireann routes in terms of frequency.

I ask Ms Graham, as the person at the helm of the NTA, to re-examine the service that people in Tulla, Bodyke, O'Callaghan's Mills and Broadford have enjoyed. I ask her to intervene in this. I have spent the morning on the telephone to management of Bus Éireann in the region. They are very clear that they would run the service if it was authorised by the NTA. Could Ms Graham address that matter if she has knowledge of it?