Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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271. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the NTA and LocalLink in counties Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim awarded recent tendered routes in County Leitrim to large bus companies that operate internationally while taking these routes away from local bus companies in County Leitrim which now face going out of business as result of losing these routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26448/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport 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 which operates under the Local Link brand.  

In light of the NTA's responsibilities in this matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days. 

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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272. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a Carlow town bus service; if funding will be made available for this service in quarter 3 or quarter 4 of 2021; his plans to provide rural bus services between New Ross, County Wexford, and Saint Mullin's, Tinnahinch and Borris, County Carlow, and Arklow, County Wicklow, to Carlow town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26470/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.  The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, and for the allocation of associated funding to the relevant transport operators.  

My primary focus at present is to ensure that the NTA receives sufficient public service obligation (PSO) funding to maintain the existing level of public transport services in 2021.  As I indicated in my response to the Deputy's previous question (number 88 of 24th March 2021), the Programme for Government  does commit to the introduction of new services, including new town services, in order to improve public transport connectivity. I intend to pursue additional funding for such services in the context of the Programme for Government during 2021.

I understand that the NTA responded to the Deputy in relation to the expansion of the Local Link network in County Carlow and surrounding counties.