Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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145. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the additional public bus services that will be provided in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [26171/22]

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; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of 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 the Rural Transport Programme management, which operates under the TFI Local Link brand.

The Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan is a major national public transport initiative developed by the NTA to increase public transport connectivity, particularly for people living outside the major cities and towns. 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 Authority's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's specific question in relation to the additional public bus services that will be provided in counties Cavan and Monaghan, to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days