Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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268. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he will take to secure the Athlone to Westport bus service in view of its importance in providing connectivity between Galway, Portiuncula, Roscommon and Castlebar hospitals, particularly in view of the removal of emergency services by the Government from Roscommon Hospital; if he will explore the development of this service, via Knock Airport, in order to increase passenger numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9682/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Bus Éireann’s Expressway services are commercial services operated in competition with private operators on main trunk routes and are licensed by the National Transport Authority (NTA). By their very nature, commercial services cannot and do not receive any PSO funding from the Exchequer.

All of these commercial bus operators will only provide services where it is commercially advantageous for them to do so and are free to withdraw or curtail their services. Where operators withdraw or curtail commercial bus services, the NTA will grant such amendments as it has no legislative powers to refuse.

I have been advised that Bus Éireann has not taken a decision to withdraw services on Expressway Route 21 from Athlone to Westport but the company is reviewing this service from a commercial perspective.

The NTA has a key role to play in assessing within available funding the appropriate response to changes in services that have an impact in rural areas and I will continue to work with the NTA on wider issues around transport in rural Ireland. I have also forwarded the Deputy's question to both the NTA and Bus Éireann for their consideration.