Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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80. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is prepared to immediately increase services on the S2 bus route in Sligo that services Rosses Point, among other locations in Sligo, which is insufficient at current capacity given the effective doubling of the population on the Rosses Point peninsula due to accommodation of Ukrainian refugees, such that school children and elderly people are unable to secure a seat on the bus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10497/23]

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.

My Department and National Transport Authority (NTA) continue to monitor and respond to the influx of refugees due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and are factoring in the geographical spread of Ukrainian refugees into the planning process. In order to serve a dual purpose by catering for both existing demand as well as responding to the increased pressures on services where the local population has grown in response to the humanitarian crisis, the NTA have accelerated the implementation of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, and also added additional stops, routes and services where the need has arisen.

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