Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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614. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress as provided under the programme for Government on rural transport and the commitment that a report will be provided to the relevant Oireachtas committee within six months examining the way in which existing routes can be made more sustainable and accessible to the public and the potential for new routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53721/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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In recognition of the value and benefit of rural transport to many communities, the Programme for a Partnership Government undertakes to examine how best to improve integration of services in the rural bus network within regions, and proposed that a report about this should be provided to the relevant Oireachtas Committee. This matter is being examined and developed by my Department in the context of the wider work on which it is now embarking around review of public transport policy, which is another commitment in the Programme for Government.

The Department's work is drawing on input that has been provided by the National Transport Authority (NTA) - the agency with responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the Rural Transport Programme (that now operates under the “Local Link” brand) - in relation to the role and operation of the Local Link services in connecting rural dwellers to facilities and services in their area, and the potential for the future.

Finally, the Deputy is probably aware that, in recent days, the Joint Committee on Rural and Community Development - which is one of the Committees with an interest in this area - has written to ask about progress on the Programme for Government commitment about rural transport; I expect to respond to the Committee on that very shortly.