Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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99. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the review of the public consultation on the proposed 425A bus route; the status of the assessment of submissions received; the expected timeline for completing the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14894/26]

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I want to raise the issue of the 425A bus route from Mountbellew to Galway city. Back in January the NTA launched a public consultation on its proposals. I would like an update as to where that public consultation is at. Has it been reviewed and assessed and where is it at? From speaking to representatives of the NTA in the Committee of Public Accounts they seemed to indicate that by the end of quarter 1, they would have an update but I would appreciate an update from the Minister today.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Dolan and I have discussed this route before. The Department of Transport, the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I are acutely aware of this. We have seen good increases across the rural transport network and they are very important links. I have mentioned to other Deputies and colleagues that when we look at public transport usage, we see that 363.5 million people used it last year. People are responding both in urban and rural areas when the services are there.

Regarding the 425A route between Galway and Mountbellew, the NTA was proposing to amend the bus network - we discussed this and the Deputy has concerned around that - serving Athenry. The recently published consultation closed on 9 January of this year. I am telling the Deputy things he already knows. I know them too and I want him to be assured of that. The proposal consists of the rerouting of the existing 425A through Athenry and the introduction of a new route, 416, between Athenry and Tuam. There were over 100 submissions, which is good. I know the Deputy has been to the forefront of this as well. They are being assessed now. I have to give them a little bit of time, although not an inordinate amount of time because people need to act quickly.

On foot of the Deputy's question, which I thank him for, I can say that we discussed this with the NTA and my team yesterday, which the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, will tell him, in preparation for this. I have asked for an update on when we are coming back with the assessment of the submissions. It is good that is done because we have to take people's views into account. We also have to take into account the views of the operators and how we can provide a better service for people. I will keep the Deputy directly informed on this. I expect to get a date for when the submissions are finalised. Then we can move on and have a look at it and see what the construct of the service will be then.

Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I really appreciate that and the manner in which the Minister has worked with me on this since I became aware of the NTA's proposals. It is important to say that absolutely nobody in my constituency has come to me saying they want to see the 425A rerouted into Athenry. Previously, the 425A was a once daily return service. It is now a four times daily service. It is working fantastically and we do not need to change it. A 416 service from Tuam to Athenry in the form of a Local Link would be fantastic but the reality is that what we are missing is an investment. We need an Athenry bus that goes directly to Galway city. Athenry is a town with a population in excess of 5,000 people. Our trains, as the Minister knows, are at capacity and we need the bus to provide an alternative form of transport for people to get into the city. That is my real ask; that Athenry gets its own, dedicated bus service.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has been and remains a very strong advocate for improving public transport in his constituency and the Galway area. I commend him on that and I will work with him in this regard. Thankfully, the Government, of which he is a member, is investing in public transport at a rate never seen before. What really pleases me is the investment in our regions as well. It is not east coast-centric or Dublin-centric where it may have been with some other initiatives. We are looking at regional development.

I asked the NTA about it yesterday. We are looking at the end of quarter 1 for conclusion of the review of the submissions, which is the end of next month. I will give it that time and then we will assess it. The Deputy has very clearly articulated the fact the 425A service is working well and people do not want to see a change being made to it. I am sure that will be borne out in the submissions. I assure the Deputy that he and I will work directly on it.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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At the end of quarter 1 when we have the submissions back, we will have a look at it. One thing is, with the PSO, which underpins many public transport services because we have expanded them so greatly, myself and the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, were able to secure a significant increase in the base in the PSO. This still means we have to manage new routes in the context of our overall allocation.

The point the Deputy has made very clearly is very valid. The existing four-time-a-day service is working very well. If we need additional services, which the Deputy has advocated for also, that also needs to be looked at in the round too. What I commit to doing is, when this submission review has been completed, we will get a copy. We obviously have to work with the NTA because it sets the routes, but I will certainly engage with the Deputy directly on this. I know how important it is to him. To be fair, he has been advocating for it on a regular basis.