Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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24. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures currently in place to address the lack of late-night public and private transport options in rural areas; and whether his Department has identified this issue as a barrier to the sustainability of rural social and hospitality businesses. [2696/26]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the local area hackney licence, and the provision of public passenger transport services in rural and urban areas, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016 and the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008.

The purpose of the local area hackney (LAH) licence is to offer a part-time SPSV service in a rural community where existing transport services do not serve the needs of the community. The LAH can meet the demand for these services, but it cannot displace any existing SPSV services. Applications are open to any person who wishes to provide this service, subject to the regulations. As of 30 November 2025, there are 25 licensed LAH drivers and 24 licensed LAH vehicles in operation.

The NTA held a public consultation, which closed on 28 November 2025, on proposed changes to the current LAH regulations to increase the LAH licence uptake. The proposed key changes to the regulations are to: (1) permit more than one local area hackney driver to operate the local area hackney; (2) enhance the voice of local communities regarding the transport needs assessment for their area, and (3) reduce the regulatory burden on applicants by giving greater clarity to local communities and applicants on the areas nationwide that are open for applications for LAH licences.

In addition to those key changes, the NTA also proposes to: extend the maximum licence period for vehicles and drivers from 3 years to 5 years; mandate licence holders to demonstrate that they are providing satisfactory service to their community when renewing their licence; reduce the time period in which a licence holder must complete their licence renewals from 12/24 months following expiration to within 3 months of their licence expiry to ensure that a community is not without the required services, and introduce a new fixed penalty notice offence for picking up passengers outside of their permitted local area. The NTA is currently evaluating the feedback from this consultation and the NTA expects to implement any related enhancements in early 2026.

Of the 36 new and enhanced routes launched under Connecting Ireland in 2025, 20 of them include evening services. Two of these routes also include late night services, Route 567 between Carrick-on-Shannon and Drumshanbo has a late-night service every Friday and Saturday, and Route 351 between Galway and Ennis also operates a late-night service.

Given the NTA's responsibility in securing the provision of public transport passenger services in rural and urban areas, I have referred your question to the NTA for further information. Please advise my private office if you have not received a reply within 10 working days.