Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. He made a valid point about rural transport. I would be standing for a long time at the end of my lane before a bus would go past - there is no bus.

The rural transport programme provides services to people whose travel needs are not met by scheduled bus or train services. I think the Deputy will agree that the LocalLink company covering Cavan and Monaghan is one of the best in the country. It has continually added to the service it has provided over the years. It is a top-class service that provides transport to people in remote rural parts of Cavan and Monaghan and helps bring them into the towns.

The Deputy is right in saying the rural transport programme plays a major role in combatting rural isolation and it acts as a catalyst in creating models of partnership at all levels where key sectors actively engage in transport provision to ensure equality of access for all. Services funded under the programme complement rather than compete with existing public transport services provided by CIÉ companies or private transport operators.

There are currently 400 operators in the rural transport programme providing transport services under direct contract with the NTA.

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