Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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171. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the engagement he has had with LocalLink on providing rural bus services since the outbreak of Covid-19. [21903/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. It is the National Transport Authority (NTA) which has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) which operates under the 'Local Link' brand.

Continued operation of the public transport system is important, and it has been designated among the essential services that have carried on throughout the Covid-19 emergency. I would like to thank operators and their staff for their continued dedication to providing this vital service in such challenging times.

A number of measures have been introduced across the system, guided by public health advice, to ensure the continued operation of services during the pandemic, including enhanced cleaning regimes and social distancing measures across the network.

Over the course of the Covid-19 emergency, my Department has been working closely with the NTA to ensure public transport services continue and to plan for the provision of enhanced public transport services, including Local Link, in line with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. In this context the NTA is engaging directly with transport operators and Local Link offices.