Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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79. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review the route of the Rural Link bus managed from the Cavan/Monaghan Rural Link office to accommodate persons from the Carrigallen area in County Leitrim to travel to Cavan town, to include members of the Ukrainian community (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46902/22]

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.

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, and the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan.

In light of the NTA's responsibilities for public transport services, including in Counties Cavan and Leitrim, 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 days.

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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81. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress that has been made on extending bus services to the Upper Ballymoneen Road area of Knocknacarra in Galway; if the National Transport Authority will commit to funding a turning bay and other facilities necessary to establish the service in the area; the timescale for the provision of such a service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46934/22]

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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82. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress that has been made by the National Transport Authority in undertaking a review of the Galway bus network; the format that the review will take; when it is expected to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46935/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 82 together.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport in our cities, including bus infrastructure and services.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply on the specific issues raised. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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83. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure that funding is provided to ensure the vital rural bus service operated by a company (details supplied) in Kilkenny can resume operation; the assurances that can be given to local residents given that the service has ceased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46951/22]

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.

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.

In light of the NTA's responsibilities for public transport services, including in County Kilkenny, 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.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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84. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the issues in relation to the 175-bus route; if he will change to a provider that is capable to deliver the service given that the company (details supplied) cannot perform its duties which should be contractually agreed. [46956/22]

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 and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.

The performance of all public transport operators is monitored by the NTA as part of the contractual arrangements in place between it and the operators. These contractual arrangements allow for not just the monitoring of performance by the NTA and the publication by it of annual performance reports, but importantly, the contracts also allow for the imposition of financial penalties where performance does not meet the required standard.

It is the case that operators in the public transport sector are experiencing difficulties with staffing both as a result of COVID-19 related absences and also difficulties in recruiting new drivers; however, it is also the case that Go-Ahead Ireland is experiencing higher than normal levels of Covid-related staff absences at present resulting in a knock-on effect on service delivery with some services not operating as scheduled. In addition, last week the company notified the NTA of a cyber-security alert which resulted in major difficulties in communicating rosters to drivers across the Go-Ahead group internationally, including Ireland, causing a number of additional service cancellations across the Go-Ahead Ireland network, over and above those associated with general driver shortages.

As part of the NTA’s performance monitoring system poor reliability and punctuality performance does result in financial penalties. I am informed that these matters will be discussed between the NTA and Go-Ahead Ireland at their forthcoming quarterly review meeting.

The NTA formally meets Go-Ahead Ireland on a weekly basis to review performance, associated customer feedback and driver recovery plans and will continue to monitor and engage closely with the operator in an effort to improve the situation.

Operators are forecasting significant improvements in reliability in the coming months, dependent on successful recruitment and retention of critical staff, in particular drivers, and it is hoped that this will help to resolve to current reliability issues being experienced.