Mr. Seamus Boland:

On behalf of the board of Irish Rural Link, IRL, I thank the committee and the Cathaoirleach for the invitation to the meeting, which we were glad to accept. I wish to introduce Ms Miriam McKenna, who is a member of our board and manager and director of the Flexibus programme. I also introduce Mr. Alan Kerry, who is also a member of the Irish Rural Link board. He also runs the Local Link service in Kildare.

I hope members have received a copy of my statement. Irish Rural Link has been a key supporter and advocate of rural transport since the establishment of the rural transport initiative in 1998. Since the establishment phase, IRL has contributed in a collaborative manner to supporting both policy and operational progression to ensure transport in rural Ireland has continued to be a key output in governmental decisions pertaining to both transport and rural development.

The board of IRL and the organisation as a whole has had a particular rural transport focus since it was founded 1991, with representation then secured from Flexibus, an independent company limited by guarantee that is managed by Ms McKenna. The Local Link network, the representative body of the 15 organisations currently providing transport functions, has had a seat on the IRL board since 2015.

As an organisation, IRL recognises the contribution that transport makes in ensuring vibrant and sustainable communities. In November 2000, the report of the interdepartmental working group on rural transport stated that while important individual initiatives were progressing, rural transport at the time lacked a fully integrated national approach. It also stated there was already wide consensus about the existence of a rural transport problem but neither the full nature or scale had been systematically quantified and the overall direction of policy needed to address it had not yet been fully articulated. That was a report from 2000, which we note.

We acknowledge the improvements that have been achieved since then in the delivery of public transport in rural Ireland, particularly the integrated national approach that has recently been seen through the ongoing roll-out of the Connecting Ireland programme. However, we would also advise that IRL will continue its role in ensuring that this roll-out realises its full potential and effects change in as many rural communities as possible. We have some distance to go.

This approach is consistent with the strategy, Our Rural Future for the period 2021 to 2025, which is the national rural development programme. IRL has always wanted a consistency of programmes to apply. We believe this will require the continuation of innovative solutions that will build on the initial successes of the rural transport initiative where demand-responsive transport played a key role in delivering rural solutions. That is an approach we believe, if implemented appropriately, will play a key part in ensuring that those living outside of settlements in rural areas can also benefit from the expansion of regular rural bus services currently being planned and developed under the Connecting Ireland programme.

Currently, 15 independent organisations are operating as companies limited by guarantee. That is the situation in Local Link. Working as not-for-profit entities allows them to deliver transport co-ordination unit, TCU, functions on behalf of the Department of Transport and managed by the National Transport Authority, NTA. It is worth saying, as we have many times before, that the involvement of the NTA has been a game changer in progressing that policy. The current structure provides an example of a ground-up approach, supported by Departments and a national agency, which, through co-operation at various levels, have contributed to exponential growth in the number of people availing of and using public transport in rural areas.

In line with the Government's sustainable mobility objectives, the period 2018 to 2022 saw substantial growth in the delivery of public transport in rural areas under the TFI Local Link brand and the rural transport programme. This period has experienced a substantial widening in the demographic of the Irish population who now avail of public transport in rural areas. Services are now facilitating older people, younger people, second- and third-level students, workers and tourists. An overall holistic approach is something for which we have advocated for many years.

Between 2018 and 2022, the number of regular rural services delivered has increased by 205.9%, from 34 to 104. An extra 61 new services are planned for 2023. If delivered, this would represent an increase of 385% in the number of regular services delivered between 2018 and 2023. In 2018, there were just seven regular rural services operating seven days per week, accounting for 20.6% of total services. In 2022, there were 62 regular rural services operating seven days per week, accounting for almost 60% of total services. Between 2018 and 2022, the number of regular rural services operating seven days per week increased by more than 700%.

We would also like to address climate action. In its National Sustainable Mobility Policy Action Plan 2022-2025, the Department of Transport outlined its vision for the future of transport in Ireland. The plan sets out a strategic framework to 2030 for active travel and public transport to support Ireland’s overall international obligation to achieve a 51% reduction in carbon emissions. IRL is keen to ensure that members of the rural population are assisted to provide them with the opportunity to remove themselves from car dependency and, in turn, play their part in protecting the environment and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is a situation that we recognise presents unique challenges in rural areas and we again offer ourselves as willing contributors to finding unique solutions in this area.

In addition to climate action, we in IRL believe that our organisation has key values and goals. We must endeavour to advocate for transport and mobility solutions that are inclusive and apply to all members of our society.

IRL is aware and mindful of the fact that the functions pertaining to local transport co-ordination are currently procured on cyclical four-year terms. IRL is also aware that the companies, that is, the TCUs, currently providing these functions are operating on one-year extensions to contracts. Consideration should now be given by all Members of the Houses to ensuring the platform for these functions are strong enough to maintain the proposed expansion in services over the coming years. The challenges presented by four-year terms do not support continuous professional development for staff or allow the foundation to ensure that the appropriate capacity or skills are supported and developed to address the many new challenges that are presented by climate action or the progression of the rural mobility plan.

Challenges are currently being experienced because of the contraction of the availability of local private bus operators to deliver the expansion of local bus services. It is no surprise that operators are being challenged by the lack of availability of vehicles and suitably qualified and experienced bus drivers. That is a problem throughout the transport system. The above issues have been exacerbated to an extent due to Brexit, which has affected the availability of vehicles and replacement parts.

I will turn to consider the continuation and expansion of services pertaining to older people and people with disabilities in rural areas. Rural transport since its inception has been about meeting the needs of people with disabilities and people who lack mobility. That means accessible vehicles must be supported by accessible infrastructure. We would respectfully ask this committee to work with our organisation to ensure that appropriate infrastructure, including at a minimum bus stops, are planned for and provided.

As was pointed out in our own discussions, visibility is everything. If people see bus stops in a rural area, then they know there is a rural bus service. If people do not see them - in some cases, they do not exist - then they do not think there is a rural service. This is an important point.

We thank the committee for its invitation. We are fully aware that, as a committee and individually, its members have worked hard in different guises on the road to providing a proper rural integrated transport service. I will say upfront that my colleagues present are much more expert than I am, but we will take members' questions. We are here to work with all of the committee's members to ensure the success we are now having in Local Link is built upon for the next stage.