Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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153. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when free travel for children under nine years will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42157/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Under Budget 2025, funding has been allocated to the Department of Transport to provide for free public transport for children aged 5 to 8 years. Free travel for all children under-five on subsidised public transport services was introduced in 2017, and this new measure now extends that to include children aged between 5 and 8 years of age.

The extension will be introduced next year, with a lead time involved to allow for the necessary technical changes required to facilitate the implementation of this change to child fares. Similar to the previous fare initiatives this measure marks another step towards making sustainable transport a more affordable option for more families.

Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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154. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a timeline for the extension of free child fares on public service obligation services to children aged 5-8 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42175/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Under Budget 2025, funding has been allocated to the Department of Transport to provide for free public transport for children aged 5 to 8 years. Free travel for all children under-five on subsidised public transport services was introduced in 2017, and this new measure now extends that to include children aged between 5 and 8 years of age.

The extension will be introduced next year, with a lead time involved to allow for the necessary technical changes required to facilitate the implementation of this change to child fares. Similar to the previous fare initiatives this measure marks another step towards making sustainable transport a more affordable option for more families.

Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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155. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current cost of installing a new bus shelter at a bus stop that previously did not have one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42178/24]

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 responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of bus stops/shelters nationally.

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

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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156. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will examine providing a daily rural transport link to service Streamstown, County Westmeath, as currently the 819 local link service caters for Castletown-Geoghegan; and if this service could be extended to take in Streamstown. [42197/24]

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 TFI Local Link services and the roll-out of services under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan.

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