Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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89. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on Local Link; if he is taking steps to expand its capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34495/25]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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On bus routes in west Kerry, there is a shortage of bus stop signage, poles and paper schedules. In Baile na nGall, there is a parking exclusion zone, so buses cannot turn properly. In Lios Póil, there is no dedicated bus stop, so many people have been caught out because they did not know where to stand when the bus was going past. This is symptomatic of the lack of infrastructure for Local Link services. The International Institute for Management Development has said Ireland's infrastructure is the area in which our performance is weakest and the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has said it rates very low when compared to other European countries.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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I call the Taoiseach.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach is not here.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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Excuse me. I meant the Minister. It is getting late.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Thanks.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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It is a sign of things to come.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Daly for his question. Infrastructure is a matter that has been raised by many Local Link companies. Arising from the Indecon review, it is important that we look at the issues the Deputy has raised in consultation with TFI and the NTA. They are valid concerns but there are also issues in respect of safety, the suitability of certain stops' locations and certain signage. I will work with the Deputy and my colleagues in the Department to ensure the concerns the Deputy has raised are taken on board. They have also been expressed to me by some of the people concerned. If Deputy Daly would like to give me details of the issues in west Kerry, I would be happy to talk to him about them. I will also come down to visit if the Deputy would like me to.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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Of course, the Minister of State is more than welcome any time. Perhaps we could take a bus trip around west Kerry during the recess. That applies to the Minister as well. There is a feeling that there is a regional imbalance and that the infrastructure is much better in the cities than it is in, for example, west Kerry. Cars are the dominant mode of transport in rural Ireland. They are used for 82% of all trips. The National Transport Authority's latest household travel survey demonstrates that a significant portion of the population does not access public transport services at all. From the massive increase in the numbers accessing the services that have been provided, we see that, when they are provided, people will use them. We can see that from the Local Link services, where demand is outpacing what is being delivered. We have a problem, in that, because of the housing crisis, many students are talking public transport to college. The bus from Ballybunion through Listowel and into Tralee is oversubscribed. Will the Minister of State commit to producing another bus for September?

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy's question is different from the one that was submitted. To provide one figure, under this Government and the last Government, we have seen an increase in funding for the rural transport programme. It has gone from €16 million in 2022 to €25 million last year. As the Deputy will know quite well, we have seen growth in his county of Kerry. For example, route 280 from Waterville to Killorglin was enhanced to improve frequency. We have seen a vast number of other routes being increased across the country. Route 278 from Fenit to Tralee has seen a new service operate seven times daily from Monday to Sunday. The route operates a peak-time and evening service for commuters and provides an additional evening service on Friday and Saturday.

As the Deputy knows, it is about the balance between the demand response and enhancing rural services. As the Indecon report shows, we are committed to a review of governance, performance and structure. We will also be influenced by extensive stakeholder engagement. I have travelled the country and met many of the companies.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Minister of State will be able to come back in.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government is very committed to rural transport.

Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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The Minister of State will have a further supplementary reply.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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Another type of rural transport which does not get much of a mention and which has been suggested to me by Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh and people working in her office is the door-to-door services. In many counties, no new door-to-door services have been funded for a number of years. Connecting Ireland funding has generally gone towards high-frequency services, which, of course, are beneficial and have been used a lot but are not the only type of service that is desperately needed. In rural areas of Mayo and other western counties, for people who cannot afford a car or those who no longer drive, the door-to-door network is essential. There are some door-to-door services that operate weekly or biweekly but we need more frequent door-to-door services. Will the Minister of State commit to expanding this type of service in order that people in more rural areas can access public transport like people in the more populated areas?

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware from the situation in his county, there are regular rural services and demand-responsive services. These allow passengers to travel from their local villages and towns for business, shopping, healthcare or to connect with the national bus and train network. We are committed in the context of the provision of rural transport to engaging further with stakeholders. As per the Indecon report, we will examine the effectiveness of the existing operations and look at the organisational structure and the governance of our rural transport programme. We will base our recommendations on the outcomes from that and carry out an extensive network of engagement. I have been in Longford, I have been in Waterford and I have been in parts of Cork. I have met with the companies. I have spoken to the former Ministers, Ms Coughlan and Mr. Dukes, in Donegal and Kildare. We will work to ensure that the feedback we receive and review will be the modus operandi we will use in the future in terms of policy. I will be happy to talk to the Deputy and meet with any group in Kerry he wants me to meet.