Dáil debates

Thursday, 5 July 2018

Topical Issue Debate

Rural Transport Services Provision

4:15 pm

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for the compliment, which might have been backhanded, about what is being done in Dublin. We are making significant progress in Dublin and the future is looking a lot brighter for public transport there. I do not interpret the Deputy's remarks as meaning that it is at the expense of rural areas but I understand what he is saying about people in rural areas and rural transport operators looking at Dublin with a certain amount of envy. The greater expenditure in Dublin is due to the population. I will bear in mind what the Deputy said about rural areas in County Clare. We are being proactive in addressing the issue.

The House will be aware, that as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. I do not have responsibility for the day-to-day operations of public transport services. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public transport passenger services nationally, including the provision of bus services in County Clare. In addition, the NTA also has responsibility, since 2012, for managing the rural transport programme, which includes bus services in rural parts of County Clare. Consequently, the development of bus services in specific areas is a matter for the NTA in conjunction with the relevant transport provider and the Local Link office.

In view of the Deputy's interest in this issue, however, my Department contacted the NTA about both existing bus services in rural parts of County Clare and new services which are being developed. The NTA has advised my Department that 13 routes operate through County Clare by Bus Éireann under a public service contract with the NTA. Some of these services are entirely within County Clare while others either originate or terminate outside County Clare. All of these services are entirely subvented by the State. An additional three services are operated on a commercial basis through County Clare by licensed operators, including Bus Éireann Expressway. The NTA has further advised that it is in the process of finalising detailed timetables for Bus Éireann services from west Clare to Ennis. The current services on routes 333 and 336 are proposed to be significantly enhanced and improved from the current level of service.

In rural areas, bus services are provided under the rural transport programme, which now operates under the Local Link brand. By way of background information for the House, the NTA contracts the services and the 17 Local Link offices, including Local Link Clare, manage the services in their respective areas on behalf of the NTA. The NTA, with its national remit to secure the provision of public passenger transport services, is best placed to ensure that the Local Link services are developed and integrated with other public transport services. Local Link Clare operates 24 routes in County Clare. The NTA is aware that there remains scope for Local Link services to complement the revised Bus Éireann services and to provide travel opportunities from locations currently not served or very poorly served. The NTA is also considering proposals from Local Link Clare for two new services to include Ballyvaughan to Ennis via Lisdoonvarna, and Ennis via Kildysart extension to include Kilmurry McMahon and Labasheeda. The NTA anticipates that a decision will be made on both of these services shortly.

Accessing social activities in the evening in rural areas presents particular difficulties which I sought to address in meetings with key stakeholders at the end of last year, arising from which the NTA issued a call for applications. Although Local Link Clare did not submit proposals under the original call by the NTA, I have been advised by the NTA that proposals were subsequently received from Local Link Clare.

The NTA is currently examining these applications with a view to having new evening services on three routes in County Clare.

I am committed to the further development of bus services in rural areas and that is why funding has been increased over the past number of years, which has enabled the introduction of new services, including regular five, six or seven day per week bus services as well as demand-responsive services. Key features of these new services have included greater integration with existing public transport services and better linkage of services between and within towns and villages.

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