Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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265. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline his plans to develop a new scheme to support people with disabilities to access personal transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34153/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and funding in relation to 'open' public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network. The NTA works with the relevant public transport operators, who have responsibility for day to day operational issues, to progressively make public transport accessible, especially for disabled people, persons with disabilities and older people.

From a policy perspective, I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department of An Taoiseach has established a unit within its Department which will focus on disability, reflecting a commitment in the Programme for Government to a step change in supports and services required by disabled people. In my role as Minister for Transport, I will be engaging with that unit with an emphasis on addressing the wider issues such as ensuring that all public transport operators provide safe and accessible access for all passengers.

However, 'closed' transport services, for example dedicated disability transport supports are outside of my 'open' public transport remit.

Responsibility for policy and funding for disability transport services, lies with the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality and the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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266. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will give detailed consideration to a recent briefing note of the Northern & Western Regional Assembly: Regional Infrastructure Priorities for the Northern and Western Region, June 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34168/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport, air transport and roads. The recent briefing note of the Northern & Western Regional Assembly: Regional Infrastructure Priorities for the Northern and Western Region, June 2025 is wide ranging in terms of policy scope and includes some projects outside of my remit.

In relation to public transport, the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, undertaken by the Department of Transport in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, informs the development of rail on the Island of Ireland in the coming decades to 2050, in line with net zero targets in both jurisdictions. The Review’s Final Report was published in July 2024.

The Review sets out 32 strategic recommendations to enhance and expand the rail system in Ireland and Northern Ireland up to 2050. The recommendations seek to transform the quality of the rail system to the benefit of passengers and wider society on the island, through additional track capacity, electrification, increased speeds, higher service frequencies and new and reinstated routes. This includes proposals to reinstate the Western Rail Corridor rail line between Athenry and Claremorris. Extending to line beyond Claremorris to Colloney was not included in the recommendations at this stage.

The Review also noted other potential interventions, including double-tracking between Athenry and Galway, and improving service frequencies between Counties Galway and Mayo and Athlone by building more passing loops, as well as a rail connection between Derry and Letterkenny.

It should be noted that individual programmes and projects referred to within the final Review Report will be advanced subject to funding and relevant approvals, as required under the Infrastructure Guidelines in Ireland.

Assisted by the European Investment Bank (EIB) Advisory Services, the Department of Transport and Department for Infrastructure, and agencies north and south, are working to progress the Report’s recommendations in the years ahead to help optimise the sequencing and implementation of the proposed investments. This work will inform the Department's engagement on the review of the National Development Plan, which is currently underway.

BusConnects Galway will provide a major enhancement to the bus system in Galway comprising changes to the network, the fleet, ticketing, bus shelters/poles and the development of bus lanes and bus priority. Key elements are currently under development, namely the Cross City Link project, which was approved by An Bord Pleanála in September 2024 (currently subject to Judicial Review), and the Dublin Road scheme, which the NTA has submitted to An Bord Pleanála. Droichead an Dóchais (formerly: the Salmon Weir Pedestrian/Cycling Bridge) was officially opened to the public in May 2023. The bus network design was finalised in December 2023 following a public consultation.

The new bus network will enable more people to avail of public transport resulting in increased access to a greater number of schools and workplaces across Galway City, Bearna and Oranmore. Once this network is implemented 67% of residents will live within 400 metres of a high frequency bus route (running every 15 minutes or better). The NTA plans to commence the implementation of the New Galway Bus Network in the coming years.

Regarding National Roads projects, as Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Infrastructure Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. Therefore, TII are better placed to advise you on the status of the various National Roads Projects mention in the report.

Noting the above position, I have referred the question to TII for a direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.

In relation to air transport, national policy on regional airports is designed to optimise conditions for connectivity and regional development in line with Project Ireland 2040 as well as related Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies. Government recognises the social and economic benefits that can be derived from facilitating access to and from the regions. In line with this, Government provides substantial annual funding under a Regional Airports Programme. This Programme, which is administered by my Department, supports Ireland’s smallest regional airports, those that provide scheduled passenger services and handle fewer than one million passengers per annum. Ireland West Airport along with Donegal and Kerry airports are currently eligible for funding under this Programme. Funding under the Programme supports vital safety, security and sustainability operations and activities at these airports.

This Government’s Programme for Government provides a clear commitment to continue to invest in the Regional Airports Programme and to develop a new Regional Airports Programme 2026-2030. This new Programme is being progressed by my Department as a matter of priority this year.

An Exchequer funded Public Service Obligation (PSO) air service between Donegal and Dublin airports is also supported under this Programme. This service provides the people and business in the North West with vital twice daily two-way air services to attend medical and other important appointments. Services facilitate same day return from Donegal Airport and onwards international connectivity via Dublin Airport. My Department is currently preparing to go to tender for the continuation of this important service beyond the expiration of the current contract in February 2026. There are no plans to include a stopover at Sligo under the upcoming tender process. However, it must be recognised that Sligo to Dublin is well served by alternative transport modes, including the M4 motorway and rail services which operates up to 11 departures daily. Such factors are taken into account when determining the necessity for the imposition of a PSO in accordance with EU Regulation.

In addition, in the context of building our shared Island, the Programme for Government also includes a commitment to engage with relevant stakeholders to establish air connectivity between Dublin and Derry City airports. My Department is currently progressing the preparatory work necessary to introduce a PSO air service on this route in 2026.

The North West has established good connectivity with the UK and Europe via Ireland West and Donegal airports, with further international connectivity provided from Donegal via Dublin Airport. The targeted Exchequer funding provided by my Department to these airports has supported this connectivity, with overall passenger traffic across these airports in 2024 3% above 2023 levels. I was pleased to note a significant 12% increase in passenger traffic to end May this year.

Regarding the Port of Galway’s plans for infrastructure expansion, the Department is aware of this. As a local authority port, Galway does not come under the remit of the Department of Transport. Nonetheless, the Minister for Transport supports the development of port facilities that may play an active role in the offshore wind industry. In the 2021 Policy Statement on the Facilitation of Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) by Commercial State ports, the Department recognised the important role that ports such as Galway can play in the developing ORE sector.

In 2022, the Port of Galway met the European Commission’s criteria for inclusion in the Trans-European Transport (TEN-T) Network. The role the Port of Galway played in facilitating the import of onshore wind turbines contributed to this new designation under new climate criteria in the regulations. The upgrade to the port’s TEN-T status means that the port can now apply for part-funding under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

As part of its wider plans, there is potential for the port to support the development of ORE by accommodating an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) base. Given its position, the port may also play a role supporting the wider supply chain for ORE. The Port of Galway is strategically located on West Coast of Ireland, placing it in an ideal position to service future offshore wind demand.

Finally, in terms of our regional and local roads, the improvement and maintenance of them is the statutory responsibility of each local authority and Exchequer funding is intended to supplement local authorities’ own resources. The primary focus for investment is on the maintenance and renewal of the network. In 2025, €643 million from the Department of Transport's Regional and Local Roads Grant Programme total budget of €713 million has been allocated for such works.

In this context the three most significant grants for Councils in terms of monies and in terms of maintaining the road network in a serviceable condition are Restoration Maintenance (RM), Restoration Improvement (RI) and Discretionary Grant (DG). The amount that each local authority receives under these three grant programmes is based on the regional and local road length in each county or city area (taken as a proportion of the total road length and multiplied by the amount available for the programme) with some account taken of traffic. The funding allocations provided to local authorities of the Northern and Western Region of Ireland are, therefore, consistent with other local authorities' allocations.

There are some factors that affect each local authority's Discretionary Grant allocation which can be used for winter maintenance purposes. The cost of salt for the previous winter, which is purchased centrally, is subtracted from the gross Discretionary Grant allocation to each authority to recoup the cost of salt used by each authority in the previous winter.

There is also a limited budget available for road improvement schemes - €70 million has been allocated this year. This covers projects under the Strategic and Specific Grant Programmes. Any road improvement projects proposed by local authorities for consideration under the Specific or Strategic Grant Programmes are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis taking into account the Infrastructure Guidelines and the Department's Transport Appraisal Framework. Road length is not, therefore, a factor in allocating funding under these programmes.

Where projects are being implemented under the Specific or Strategic Grant programmes, this can result in significant variances between the total amount of funding provided to local authorities with similar networks and this affects total grant per kilometre comparisons between different local authorities.