Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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264. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps that are being taken to improve public transport services from rural areas to designated cancer centres for scheduled day case treatments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46620/21]

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.

For the information of the Deputy, the remit of my Department and its Agencies, including the NTA, relates to public transport services, rather than individualised or personalised travel supports.

Public transport services are open services which are planned, coordinated and delivered as a means for the general public to access a wide variety of services and allow all passengers to travel together, in so far as possible. Transport services that do not fit this description are deemed to be ‘closed’ services, for example, dedicated door-to-door disability or health services, and do not come under the remit of my Department or the NTA.

In addition, the funding allocated to my Department and its Agencies is for public transport services, for example Public Service Obligation (PSO) funding, and the Local Link Rural Transport Programme, rather than for individual travel or mobility grant support schemes.