Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

256. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the new additional rural services promised under the Connecting Ireland programme will be rolled out; the services that will be involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23467/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan is a major national public transport initiative developed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) to increase public transport connectivity, particularly for people living outside the major cities and towns. The 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 the Rural Transport Programme management, which operates under the TFI Local Link brand.

As I announced on 21st April 2022, certain routes identified by the NTA in their Connecting Ireland public consultation held in Nov-Dec 2021 will be prioritised and accelerated. This acceleration serves a dual purpose by catering for both existing demands as well as responding to the increased pressures on services where the local population has grown in response to the Ukrainian crisis. This acceleration of works will include additional stops, route modifications, and more services with the aim of increasing connectivity.

In light of the NTA's responsibilities for the development of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

257. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the additional bus services that have been provided to provide public transport for the Ukrainian refugees located in rural locations; if further services are intended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23468/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In line with the whole of Government approach, my Department and the National Transport Authority (NTA) have been working on practical and meaningful responses to the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis.

 From the beginning of the crisis, we have provided newly arriving Ukrainians with free travel from their port of entry to their end destination on any PSO or Local Link service. Indeed, many commercial bus services similarly offered this assistance in getting people to a safe location.

I was also pleased to announce the provision of emergency public transport services to those refugees housed in rural or isolated locations to ensure better access to our local communities. This will be achieved through an acceleration of network improvements identified through the Connecting Ireland public consultation, including additional stops, route modifications, and more services with the aim of increasing connectivity. Rural areas will avail of such improvements, in practice catering for both existing demands as well as responding to the increased pressures on services where the local population has grown in response to the humanitarian crisis.

Additional bus services will also be deployed to cater for those housed away from the existing public transport network. Such measures will provide better access to a range of amenities, employment opportunities and to onward public transport connections to larger centres.

A Community Transport Fund is also being established to support occasional social travel requests. This will be operated by the TFI Local Link offices and will enable our Ukrainian guests to join in the many activities that are available in our towns, in particular, activities focused on youth, integration, culture, and education.

Transport is central to the response efforts by Ireland and collectively, these endeavours aim to support the integration of our Ukrainian guests into the local communities that are hosting them. We will keep the issue of transport provision under review as this situation continues to evolve.

In light of the NTA's responsibilities for the procurement and operation of public transport services in rural areas, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you regarding the details of which bus services have been introduced to date. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.