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 BusConnects Waterford programme.
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 working days.
Pending this detailed response, I note that BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in the bus system, providing better bus services across Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. In each city the programme will involve a mix of network redesign, new electric bus fleet, and the provision of segregated bus and cycling facilities to support more efficient journey times for sustainable transport modes.
In Waterford this includes the provision of 63km of bus lanes and bus priority measures across the Waterford Metropolitan Area and a network redesign to increase in the level of bus services including four proposed routes which would operate every 15 minutes, seven days a week.
The NDP Sectoral Investment Plan, which was published by my Department in November last year, has allocated funding to progress BusConnects across the cities. The NTA will publish a more detailed plan later this year of what elements of the programme will be advanced within the funding available up to 2030.
