Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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105. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if additional funding will be provided to the rural transport programme and TFI LocalLink in Budget 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49963/21]

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. My Department provides aggregate funding for Local Link and PSO services to the NTA.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that under Budget 2022, announced yesterday, additional funding is being provided for public transport services in rural areas, including for the NTA's Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan. The specific individual allocations will be outlined, in the normal manner, when the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) is published.

The NTA's Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan has the objective of providing better connections between villages and towns through enhanced and new local routes. These local routes will be integrated with an enhanced regional network connecting cities and regional centres nationwide.

In relation to Connecting Ireland, I understand that the NTA will be commencing the public consultation phase on its proposals very shortly. The consultation will provide all interested parties and the general public with an opportunity to review and comment on the proposals.