Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses and thank them for their submissions. The discussion is useful. Senator Garvey set the scene for rural areas. Her area is no different from any other rural area. Deputy Ó Cuív raised a question about bringing down the fares. The fares came down and more people are using public transport. I was at Heuston Station this morning and it as chock-a-block. I have seen the service from Heuston Station to Castlebar, Westport and Ballina over the years. The number of people who are using it now, compared to previously, is unbelievable. I believe that is because of the reduction in fares. There is no change in service. People have been getting the same number of services for the past 20 or 30 years so the cost of fares definitely has an impact.

It certainly has an impact on students as well. There are a lot more students using public transport, both buses and trains. The Athenry to Limerick route has been used more by students over the last year or so.

Mr. Boland raised an important point when he said we should all work closer together. Huge advances have been made in public transport over the last number of years, but on Mr. Boland's suggestion that we should work closer together, who co-ordinates it and brings it all together? There is the TFI Local Link and the local authorities. Is anybody or any group bringing it together? The NTA has said that it is working on an app and on bringing things forward. The local authorities and TFI Local Link also have a function, but there does not seem to be anybody bringing it all together. Is there any way or any suggestion of how it can be brought together?