Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. I acknowledge the work the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and his officials in the Department of Transport are doing and the commitment they have to delivering public transport that is fit for purpose. As the Minister, Deputy Harris, has acknowledged, we have seen nearly a fourfold increase since 2016 to over €42 million this year in terms of the provision of public transport. That is very welcome. Certainly the Government needs to continue on that trajectory and we need to seize the opportunity to enhance regional accessibility and stimulate economic growth. That will certainly contribute to our overall climate objectives. I trust the Minister and his Cabinet colleagues will prioritise that also for rural communities. It is really important.

I also want to take the opportunity to place on record the critical need for action on our key road infrastructure projects. One specifically is the N17 between Knock and Collooney. This project holds immense strategic importance for the west and the Atlantic economic corridor. Upgrading the N17 is not a luxury but an absolute necessity for our region. That is not just for redirecting heavy goods vehicle transport away from our villages. It will also promote the integration of active travel facilities, which is an important point. The current state of the N17 poses significant safety concerns. I urge the Minister to take the message back to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to ensure we have swift progress on this project without any unnecessary delays. While I understand there are funding considerations involved, we cannot afford to overlook the pressing need of our rural areas and the transformational impact that this well designed, safe and efficient road network will have for the west and for counties Mayo and Sligo in particular.

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