Written answers

Wednesday, 21 September 2022

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Bus Services

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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36. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the rollout of Connecting Ireland bus services; the amount allocated to date in 2022; the estimated expenditure in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46303/22]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon 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 delivering the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, which is a major national public transport initiative with the aim of increasing public transport connectivity, particularly for people living outside the major cities and towns.

On 19 July 2022, the NTA announced the Connecting Ireland Programme - Phase 1 2022 Implementation Plan, giving an overview of services in or proposed to go into operation in 2022. The proposals for 2022 can be viewed on the NTA’s website containing details on individual services:

www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Connecting-Ireland-Phase-1-Implementation-Plan-Rev3-2022.pdf.

These proposals are routinely updated as the estimated implementation dates are indicative and may well change for a number of reasons such as planning and design process, changes in demand, availability of service providers etc. Given the rapidly changing environment, it is important that the Connecting Ireland team is agile and flexible in its management of the programme, so that where progress is impacted, other plans can be advanced instead.

In Budget 2022, I was delighted to secure an allocation of €5.6m to progress, develop and begin delivery of this important plan. To keep this momentum going, I am continuing to work closely with my colleagues in Government to secure funding for the continued rollout of Connecting Ireland over its 5-year implementation period, which started earlier this year. The 2023 allocation will be finalised in the coming weeks as part of the Estimates and Budgetary process.

In light of the NTA's responsibilities for the rollout of services under the Connecting Ireland, 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.

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