Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

80. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will fund Local Link to allow it to extend their routes in areas where there is demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41351/24]

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

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 delivering the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan and New Town Services.

Under Budget 2024, a funding package of c. €613.463m was secured for PSO and Local Link services. This included funding for the continuation of the 20% fare reduction on PSO services, the Young Adult Card on both PSO and commercial bus services, and the 90-minute fare until the end of the year. Funding was also secured to support new and enhanced bus and rail services.

More recently, under Budget 2025 an indicative funding package of €652m has been secured for PSO and Local Link services next year. This includes funding to support fare initiatives and for the continued roll-out of new services next year, including the continuation of the BusConnects and Connecting Ireland programmes, and the planned introduction of further new town services.