Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raise with the Deputy Leader the matter of public transport and our Local Link services which, I believe we can all agree, provide a very valuable service across rural Ireland both in respect of both the request and fixed services. We have seen investment over many years where new routes have been created. I ask for a debate with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, on the continued roll-out of and the flexibilities required within the service. We certainly have situations, for example, on the new 432 service in Connemara, which serves Carraroe, Carna, Casla, Roundstone, Ballyconneely and Clifden, which has fixed stops. You cannot request a stop along the route. Someone living halfway between Ballyconneely and Clifden will have to go back to Ballyconneely to pick up the bus to go forward to Clifden. This obviously defeats the purpose of taking cars off the road, particularly when it comes to pensioners and non-drivers. Putting in more request stops would make perfect sense when it comes to increasing the use of the service, taking cars off the road and saving time. I appreciate that a house is on a bad bend on a road, there could be issues with just putting out you hand and requesting a bus to stop. However, more designated stops along particular routes would make perfect sense.

I ask, therefore, for a debate with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, on the flexibilities the National Transport Authority, NTA, could provide with this service. It is something that is catching on and will continue to catch on into the future. We can see additional services being rolled out along routes with regard to both frequency and the addition of new routes. There needs to be that level of flexibility to ensure this service is enhanced and becomes something of greater benefit to local users. It makes perfect sense also in respect of the environment and taking cars off the road.