Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 September 2026
291. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Transport if he will request the NTA to identify towns and population centres in Meath west where current public transport provision does not provide a viable morning and evening commuting option to Dublin, Navan, Trim or Mullingar and whether these gaps will be considered for additional PSO or Connecting Ireland services during 2027. [68709/26]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
We are at a key juncture for public transport in Ireland. Reliable and sustainable services are critical as passenger numbers grow, congestion worsens in urban areas, and a greater proportion of the population depends on public transport for commuting, education, and essential travel.
The 2026 allocation therefore focuses on maintaining and strengthening the existing network after several years of reliance on significant supplementary funding. This ensures that high-demand public transport services can continue to operate effectively, while supporting longer-term reforms to enhance capacity, accessibility, and efficiency across the system.
The NTA is managing the 2026 allocation by prioritising delivery of existing programmes in line with operational readiness and resources. Enhancements within the current allocation are prioritised, some changes are cost-neutral, while others require additional resources, and all are subject to funding, readiness, and capacity.
Transport planning and strategic decision-making are guided by a balanced assessment of operational and resource considerations. These decisions are also made following operational and performance analysis of existing services, including customer feedback. Funding for new services in 2027 will be considered through the annual Estimates process, taking account of competing funding demands and wider public transport priorities.
Under Budget 2026, €31 million was secured for rural transport service provision – a significant 38% increase on last year’s funding. This investment underpins our ongoing commitment to Connecting Ireland, which has been a major success story. Since 2022, 185 new or enhanced services have been delivered, connecting over 240 towns and villages to the public transport network. These include 61 new healthcare connections, 41 links to higher education, and 71 connections to rail services.
As part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, the programme continues to strive to deliver the following benefits:
- Over 70% of those living outside of cities will have access to public transport services that provide at least three return trips each weekday to a nearby town.
- Improved mobility options for those in remote areas with the provision of Smart Demand Responsive Transport (SDRT) and other innovative transport services.
- Over 100 new county town connections from all settlements around county towns. Over 60 new regional centre/city connections from all types of settlements around these centre/cities.
In light of the NTA’s responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
