Mr. Stephen Kent:

In the first instance, we currently operate services on behalf of the National Transport Authority, NTA, for a number of towns around Ireland. We do not operate the Kilkenny town service. That service was put out to tender and is operated by another operator. The Navan town service, for example, is one that has been significantly enhanced most recently, in respect of frequency and buses that were added in to the service. I am not aware of any direct conversations with the NTA to date in respect of the town of Ennis. Obviously, much of what we have put into operation over the last number of weeks has resulted in a significant enhancement both for Limerick city and connections for west and east Clare. However, on the actual specifics of the town service, we would be very interested in discussing potential movements with the NTA, if it were to be considered. All activities and the plans going forward as part of this, typically go out to consultation.

The Deputy is correct to state that Local Link has been used very effectively as a service by the NTA to integrate with services that are included in the direct award contract that we have. We operate 220 routes within that. Typically, those routes are integrated for connectivity with other services that might include Local Link or, indeed, other operators, commercial or rail services. That is typically where it has happened. If demand is not currently at a certain level, or if it is more efficient for the State to deploy funding in a way to provide more of a feeder service onto the main arteries, that has been typically the approach that has been developed. Other than that, in respect of the development of the main arteries, all of the main issues can be seen in the national development plan to address capacity. If capacity is required, we deploy it. Speed of service and the ability to go from A to B are things Bus Éireann and the NTA are continuously trying to address, so that we can get the right levels of frequency and coverage in places like some of the towns.

As the Deputy said, particularly as the Covid pandemic unfolds, it is possible that many more people may decide not to live in Dublin and to settle elsewhere. We have watched the news like everybody else. That is going to be an interesting part of how things will develop in the future. The aspects of interchange, directness of service, having the right levels of capacity and deploying it efficiently, dictate the way things are happening. If there is demand for a service, then it will have to be considered in that context. If there is a possibility to provide that service, we will be very willing to engage in relation to that. That is all I would say. Typically, where services have been redeployed into Local Link, it is because it is more efficient to do so. On the main services that we are deploying, we are trying to make sure that we are deploying them with the right levels of capacity, speed and frequency, and to do that in unison with the other operators if they are involved. That is what is happening at this particular point. This has been the approach since 2019 and there is a broader project in relation to connecting Ireland under way. That is all I can say in response to the Deputy. If the question needs to go further, we can probably bring it to and discuss it directly with the NTA, because ultimately it has the responsibility for connectivity.