Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

I have a final few questions. It might have been touched upon, but I want to mention the positive impact active travel measures are having at local level. The NTA's report states that €290 million was spent on just under 900 projects last year. If I go back to my time as a councillor for the Clonmel borough district on Tipperary County Council, there was always an opportunity to get small-scale projects done such as the pedestrian crossing or a €15,000 project. According to the NTA's briefing, the average project value is €300,000. I am not too sure whether small projects are still allowed. Active travel measures are needed urgently in small villages. That should be kept in mind. Can Mr. Creegan clarify whether the small €15,000 project still qualifies?

The local area hackney licence was a good initiative. I am puzzled that so few were granted. Since it was launched across 14 counties maybe 26 licences were granted and only one in Tipperary. This is where the operator could operate within 10 km radius at a set fare and could not pick up. The shopkeeper could drop the elderly person home, or the publican could drop someone home. Mr. Creegan said the initiative will be reviewed, which I welcome. It is a good initiative. I do not know whether insurance is an implication. I tried to engage with some stakeholders on the issue. The NTA has committed to a review of the initiative. Mr. Creegan said the number of taxi licences is increasing. I am a bit puzzled. The committee received a communication from the Taxis for Ireland Coalition. It said that there were 47,500 licences in 2009. That decreased to 34,000 licences in 2012. As it currently stands, there are 27,500. There has been a 25% decrease in 13 years. I cannot reconcile this with Mr. Creegan's comment that they are on the way up. There are concerns about the supply of taxis and the wheelchair accessible vehicle requirement. Can the NTA engage with the coalition to see if that can be amended in any way to increase supply?

I want to come back to the rural transport programme, which I want to see as a permanent public service. One member referred to it as a step change. It has been a positive change at local level. It has transformed rural connectivity in south Tipperary and across the county. The contracts were initially granted in 2018 for four years with an extension of one year. Are those contracts up for renewal? At what stage will the NTA sit down with the representatives of the Local Link network? There is an opportunity to renew, enhance and improve the network. Can the NTA commit to engaging with the 15 local area networks to explore how a new vision to reimagine the existing network can be developed, bearing in mind the positive impact Local Link is having? If I talk to Local Link operators on the ground, they talk positively about the engagement with the NTA but we can do so much more.

I wish to mention the town bus in Clonmel. It is not so long ago that Mr. Nott was in the chamber of the historic town hall of Clonmel. We were talking about launching a new town bus, which has been up and running for two years now. Everyone might forgive me for mentioning a local matter, but it is very important. It ticks many boxes and is working well. The numbers are really positive. The only concern I have is that a review has not yet been planned. I will put Mr. Nott on the spot. Is the NTA able to commit to a review in the coming months in which it sits down with stakeholders and elected members, both from the Oireachtas and the local authority, to see how we can improve the service in Clonmel? We are looking for an extra couple of stops. There would be a few minor changes. I would appreciate if the NTA could agree to that review today and to engaging with the 15 local area networks in the context of rolling out new and, I hope, longer term contracts in order to plan better, enhance and improve what is a really good service.

Will the witnesses clarify on active travel, taxi numbers and the local area hackneys? We will conclude after that.