Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is good to hear that there is a proposal that has been considered because it is well overdue. I understand the Minister of State is taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan. It is important that this service be put in place as soon as possible. We are already in year three of the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan. The challenge I have seen is that when the X20 Bus Éireann route was removed, leaving nothing for communities between Ballinasloe and Athlone and between Loughrea and Galway. There are people in those communities who will need to get to University Hospital Galway or Merlin Park University Hospital. We need to have access to healthcare services.

I co-ordinated a video campaign to encourage submissions at the launch of this in 2021 in Roscommon and Galway. I have raised the issue a number of times here. I highlight again that this is a CLÁR funding and just transition area. Moore is roughly 6 km from Shannonbridge. The impact of the just transition is felt there more strongly than in many other regions across the country. We need to ensure there are public transport services to enable people to get to work, hospitals and training. We cannot do so if these services are not in place.