Transport Policy

Thursday, 19 January 2023

Ceisteanna (59)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

59. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport his views on ensuring that Castletownbere is classified as a larger town within the Connecting Ireland plan to ensure that the Beara peninsula is assigned the necessary scale of routes. [2091/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including delivering the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan.

In light of the NTA's responsibilities for the rollout of services under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, including in the Beara peninsula, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.

I am writing to you concerning the matter you raised in Parliamentary Question No 28 on 10 November last which has been referred to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for reply. The development of the Connecting Ireland programme of improvements to rural public transport services required the placement of each settlement into one of six typologies. These were then checked for accuracy with the relevant local authority. There is no proposals to amend the assigned typologies at this stage for any location. Transport service levels will remain under review as demand for service increases. The Authority plans to introduce the 236A - Dursey Sound to Kilcrohane (via Castletownbere) service in early 2023. The service will operate at least 3 round trips per day, 7 days a week catering for local demand on the Beara Peninsula and connecting with the planned 270 service at Glengarriff offering onward connections to Killarney, Bantry and Skibbereen. The 270 is planned to be introduced in December of this year.