Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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1253. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the impact of the cuts sought by Bus Éireann management on rural connectivity. [11745/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​The vast majority of people in rural Ireland travel on Public Service Obligation (PSO) services funded by the Exchequer. These services are not under threat. In fact, passenger numbers and funding levels are increasing and new and additional services are being provided by operators under contract with the National Transport Authority.

Similarly the Rural Transport Programme is expanding with increased passenger numbers and funding also being provided to the NTA in its administration of that Programme.

In cases where any commercial operator decides for commercial reasons to make alterations to particular services, the NTA has the statutory authority to assess the transport needs of a particular community and take whatever action it deems appropriate.

I have assured rural Ireland that the NTA will continue to use these statutory powers to ensure public transport connectivity is maintained for rural communities affected by any changes to routes in the commercial bus market.

In recent weeks the NTA has again demonstrated its ability to utilise those powers to react to developments within the commercial bus market. In response to proposed changes announced, although not as yet implemented, by Bus Éireann, the NTA published its assessment of the impact those changes would have on connectivity. That assessment concluded that additional PSO services should be provided in one instance, that alterations should be made to existing Rural Transport Programme services in another and that sufficient connectivity options already existed in relation to others.

The NTA invited feedback from interested parties on its assessments and I would encourage the Deputy to provide such feedback if he has suggestions in respect of particular routes.