Michael Collins (Cork South-West, Independent Ireland Party)

I have been talking to Councillor Chris Maxwell in west Mayo. There is a serious issue there in relation to the National Transport Authority. It suspended part of the bus service through Westport, Louisburgh, Killeen and Killadoon. A request from local representatives to reinstate the Killeen to Killadoon section has been refused. This decision has left residents isolated with no viable alternative for essential travel. I ask the Minister of State to acknowledge this reality. These communities are being neglected. People are forced to rely on private cars for every journey whether getting to work, school, medical appointments or simply accessing basic services. This is not just a social issue, it is a climate issue. Road transport accounts for 11.8 MtCO2eq annually and 21.5% of our national emissions are from private cars, which dominate energy use in transport. I would appreciate if the Minister of State would look at why this service was suspended. It is not easy for rural communities like this one in Mayo to have the service suspended. Councillor Chris Maxwell asked me to raise that issue at the first opportunity for the people of his area and his fellow public representatives. Will the Minister of State comment?