Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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171. 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. [52022/21]

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. 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. All services operated by TFI Local Link are open public transport services, providing access for passengers to a number of services including health services.

I referred a similar Question from the Deputy of 28 September 2021 (Ref: 46620/21) to the NTA for direct reply. I understand that the NTA replied to the Deputy on 15 October 2021 and advised that a public consultation phase on Connecting Ireland would be commencing this year.

As the Deputy may be aware, last Friday, 29 October 2021, I joined with the NTA to launch the Connecting Ireland public consultation on the NTA's draft proposals. The consultation will provide all interested parties and the general public with an opportunity to review and comment on the proposals. Details of the consultation can be found on the NTA's website at www.nationaltransport.ie/connecting-ireland/