Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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61. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his Department’s plans to improve public transport connectivity for rural towns and villages, particularly in the Offaly region, including measures to address service frequency and accessibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22665/25]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. In the new Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, this Government has committed to continuing the roll-out of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan and continued investment in new town bus services.

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.

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

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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62. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the creation of the new transport security force, including an indicative timeline for its rollout and its projected size; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19848/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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There is a strong commitment under the Programme for Government to create a Transport Security Force under the NTA, which would operate and have similar powers to Airport Police and Customs Officers.

Work in the my Department is ongoing around identifying the necessary legislative proposals to progress the Transport Security Force commitment, in conjunction with the NTA.

The decisions regarding the appropriate model for the Transport Security Force are currently ongoing and in the preliminary stages of the deliberative process, however it is important to note that the introduction of such a force will require the development of legislation, which can have a significant lead time.

Nonetheless, the Government commitment to delivering a safe and secure public transport network, and the ongoing interim work on public transport safety, will continue, as will the continued support and funding for operator measures – such as the recent extension of the Dublin Bus Security Pilot Scheme.

Anti-social behaviour is a broad societal issue, to which public transport is unfortunately not immune, and it is those passengers and staff who regularly use and work within our public transport network who are most directly impacted by any safety or security incidents that may occur on the network.

We will continue to work with all stakeholders to provide safe, sustainable public transport.