2026-01-15

98. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the start date of the Glendalough-Bray Local Link; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1710/26]

I am looking for an update on the Glendalough to Bray Local Link service. This is a hugely important route. In May 2025, the NTA said it was a priority and the funding had been allocated. The contract has been awarded to a bus company and a driver is ready to go. The bus company is ready to go with this but we still have no detail on the actual start date. If the Minister of State could provide an update on that, I would be very appreciative.

I thank Deputy Whitmore for raising issues of local transport in County Wicklow. As Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for rural transport, I clearly reaffirm Government's commitment to strong and ongoing enhancement of our Local Link services right across rural Ireland, particularly in County Wicklow. Under the Programme for Government: Securing Ireland's Future, we are delivering on our promise to strengthen rural connectivity, ensuring villages, towns and cities are better linked, more accessible and more resilient. Crucially, this commitment is being backed by real and sustained investment. Funding for the rural transport programme has increased from €16 million in 2022 to over €25 million last year. This step change is already transforming services on the ground, particularly in County Wicklow. As a direct result, passenger numbers on Local Link's regular bus services have surged from 1.8 million to 4.7 million in just two years. Through the National Transport Authority and the 15 transport co-ordination units, the Local Link network now delivers a comprehensive mix of scheduled rural routes and flexible door-to-door services designed around the real everyday needs of local communities and real people. The impact is evident across a number of counties, particularly in Wicklow. In that two-year period, we saw a 46% increase in funding and a 61% rise in passenger numbers. A strong example of this progress is the launch of the new Carnew to Baltinglass service last year, which includes evening services, improves access to key destinations and significantly enhances regional connectivity. Looking ahead, the Department's allocation for this year is firmly focused on advancing existing programmes and honouring commitments already made, including our commitment to the route the Deputy has referenced. We continue to work closely with the National Transport Authority as it finalises its 2026 service plan, ensuring that our commitments are met but also that decisions are strategic, evidence-based and responsive to the needs of communities nationwide. As I have said, we are awaiting a response from the NTA on the service plan for this year. When we get that, we will publish it. We will have the answer to the Deputy's question and a definitive start date when we get that service plan from the NTA.

I was hoping that, when I came in today, the Minister of State would give me a start date for this service. It was meant to start in September of last year. As I have said, the NTA told me in May that this was a priority route and that funding had been allocated. Everyone is ready to go with this. Along with other public representatives, I have been trying to get information about this route and to find out exactly when it is going to start. There are many communities - the people in Glendalough, Laragh, Roundwood and Kilmacanogue - waiting for this bus route so that they can have direct access to shops, doctors and schools in Bray and to the DART. The fact that we have now been waiting for nearly a year for a tangible response as to a start date for this is incredible. I really was hoping the Minister of State could give me a start date because we are not getting the information from the NTA.

I know Deputy Whitmore and Deputy Timmins have raised this before. We are engaging with the NTA. We are awaiting the service plan. As the Deputy will know, we do not announce routes in part. It is part of the whole national service plan. The Department has made a commitment. The NTA has advised us that the procurement process for Transport for Ireland route 199, Glendalough to Bray, is complete. We are awaiting the service plan. From our end, the Department has fully committed to the development of the route. The Deputy is right; it is about looking after the travelling public and commuters. We have seen that in a whole range of services in her own county. We have seen investment and increased passenger numbers. People are voting with their feet in using these services. It is about connectivity, a deliberate response from Government and a Government policy to have more people use public transport. Local Link services and the connectivity they provide have been a success story for the Department of Transport. We are working with the NTA on its service plan. When that is complete, we will announce the routes as a block. We are committed to the development of the service. We will have the date in due course.

When will that service plan be complete? We need to give people some idea. This is obviously about connectivity and it is really important that these services are put in place but we are really starting to see a lack of trust in the Government's ability to provide public transport. The NTA said nearly a year ago that the funding was available, that the route had been awarded and that it was a priority but we still do not have a start date. This is not only impacting people lives because they cannot get a bus, but it is also undermining people's trust in the bus service, in the NTA and in the Government's ability to deliver. This is not a large infrastructure project. It is not the metro. We are talking about a Local Link bus from Glendalough to Bray. It really should not be that hard. It certainly should not take that long to put in place. I ask the Minister of State to talk to the NTA because it is not a good look for the Government that the NTA is not giving it those dates.

The real facts are that the plan is imminent. To put this in context, the budget was in December. The Department gave the NTA its allocation. To be fair to it, it is working through the process. This is the first week of January. The Deputy used the word "trust". Look at the Government's commitment in terms of its investment in rural transport. Some €84 million has been invested and there has been a 36% increase in the budget for this area this year. As a Government, we are committed to rural transport and want to see enhanced connectivity for people. The Local Link service has seen a 43% increase since 2025. Some €658.4 million has been invested. The Deputy speaks about trust. Trust the Government to invest in Local Link services and rural transport. We are doing that. I understand the frustration and annoyance of people. As a Government, we are working to enhance and improve the offering to people. That is what we have been doing for the past five years. It is a success story. The results can be seen in the increase in the number of people using these services and the demand for them. We will work with the NTA to ensure these services are provided. As I said a second ago, the work is complete. The NTA is going through the budgetary process, which is deliberate. The NTA is before the Committee of Public Accounts today. The service plan is imminent and we will publish it in due course.