Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach mentioned investment in rural Ireland earlier. Page 50 of the programme for Government deals with the issue of rural transport. This week, I met providers in County Meath to hear about discussions held between LocalLink, a national not-for-profit organisation for local bus providers, and the National Transport Authority, NTA, about renewal of contracts for the LocalLink service. The fear among local providers in Meath and elsewhere arises because the NTA will not confirm whether commercial bus providers will be able to tender for these routes alongside not-for-profit operators. In County Meath, the local Flexibus service carried more than 178,000 passengers last year across Meath, Louth and Fingal. It provides a life link for elderly and disabled people and has more than 20 years of experience. If the NTA allows commercial operators to enter this sector, the ethos of the service in Meath, Louth and Fingal will change. When will confirmation be provided in respect of the public procurement process? Crucially, will the Government defend the not-for-profit local operators who provide local rural links and ensure the service provider puts people rather than profit first?

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