Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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156. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline the pilot new transport initiatives that have resulted from Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56048/25]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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As Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to rural public transport service provision.

Our Rural Future - Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht’s flagship policy for a thriving rural Ireland, contains a number of commitments to improve public transport services in rural areas and pilot new transport initiatives for people of all ages and abilities living there.

Our commitments in both the Programme for Government and Our Rural Future in relation to public transport in rural areas have been progressed, among the measures, is the hugely successful Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan. This plan aims to ensure settlements over a certain size can connect to the national public transport system, expanding TFI Local Link services and prioritising public transport projects that enhance regional and rural connectivity. Under Connecting Ireland over 180 new and enhanced routes have been introduced since 2022, linking more than 240 towns and villages to the public transport network.

With funding under the Climate Action Fund, the National Transport Authority are implementing a pilot Smart Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) service in three areas as part of the Connecting Ireland Plan. The TFI Anseo app is a new smart demand responsive transport service providing both local trips and integrated ‘first and last mile’ connections to fixed route bus and rail services. It is anticipated that by using smart booking, trip allocation and routing technology, it will be possible to offer a more efficient, comprehensive and flexible DRT service. This Anseo app is now operating in Achill, Killarney and in the northeast of Limerick city.

Collectively, these measures will not only further improve connectivity in these areas but will provide viable alternatives to the private car for people in rural and regional areas of Ireland.