2026-01-15

103. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will consider introducing additional Local Link routes and frequencies to better connect rural communities in Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2666/26]

Many communities and individuals across Mayo continue to face significant challenges in accessing essential services like employment opportunities and social activities, as well as doctor's appointments, due to limited public transport options. Will the Department consider introducing additional Local Link routes and, more importantly, additional increased frequency to better connect communities in Mayo?

I thank Deputy Keogh for raising the issue. As Minister of State in the Department of Transport with special responsibility for rural transport, with my colleagues, the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, we are, as I told Deputy Whitmore, investing considerably in services throughout the country under the NTA’s flagship Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan, supported by funding allocated by the Department of Transport. I thank the Deputy for being a constant advocate in her own county of Mayo for rural transport and connectivity. We have seen funding increase by 56% between 2023 and 2024, with passenger numbers increasing by 72%. A great example of this continued investment can be seen in the launch of routes 460a and 460b in September of last year. These new routes offer connectivity to regional bus services in Castlebar station, Mayo University Hospital and to the villages located between Castlebar and Achill Island. I am pleased to share with Deputy Keogh that, last July, Ireland’s first ever smart demand responsive transport service was launched in Achill. This pilot marks a major milestone in rural mobility innovation and is a flagship initiative designed to revolutionise how rural communities connect and access public transport, and the service includes a flexible door-to-door app-based transport model, tailored to local needs, offering greater connections, convenience, accessibility and frequency. Since its launch last July, the pilot has seen encouraging passenger numbers, with a notable increase in repeat users highlighting the importance of the service as a transport link for residents in areas with limited transport options. In October 2025, the operating hours of the TFI Anseo in Achill were extended and it now operates from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to better meet the needs of the local community, providing more travel options for greater convenience and accessibility. In conclusion, my Department supports continued investment in rural transport in line with the commitment in the programme for Government to continue delivering on the fundamental and foundational public transport service produced under our flagship Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan.

I thank the Minister of State.

I will conclude on this. There is €31 million ring-fenced for rural transport, a 38% increase on funding from last year.

I was at the launch of TFI Anseo and I welcome it, along with all of the increases in spending. When we look at the map of Local Link in Mayo, it looks like we are really connected, but I am thinking of a lady in Fahy outside Westport who is in her 60s. Her mind is super active and she is a fantastic woman, but she has arthritis and cannot drive. She has one option to go to Westport on a Friday morning at 12.10 p.m, but she has three hours and 20 minutes in town before she has to be back on the bus for 3.30 p.m. It sounds as though that is great and she can go to town once a week and do her shopping and meet her friends but she has to plan that in advance. With TFI Anseo doing so well, it would be great to see that expanded into Erris and Westport so that people do not necessarily have to plan ahead. I also think of Pullathomas where one when can go as far as Curraunboy on a Monday or Wednesday at 10.30 a.m. and get a bus to Ballina at 10.44 a.m., but cannot get back. A lot has been done but more needs to be done.

The map paints a very good picture and I accept there are challenges. There are the provisions we have to bring and we want to see a further enhancement of the service. As I said earlier to Deputy Whitmore and I will say again now, we await the NTA service plan. As the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, said to Deputy Carthy in terms of road funding, we will listen to all requests. We have a finite budget, as the Deputy will appreciate, but with the NTA, we will work to ensure we continue to invest in our rural transport. In the Deputy’s own county of Mayo, we saw an increase in investment of 56% between 2023 and 2024 to more than €2 million, with passenger numbers increasing by 72%. As Minister of State, I will work with the Deputy to ensure we look at that map and see how we can fill the gaps in provision for the people the Deputy mentioned. I am fully committed, along with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, to ensuring that map has connectivity all the way around.

We need to box clever when we are looking at it. For example, Knockrooskey is an area that does not have footpaths or lighting, so we cannot put an extra bus stop in yet for the Bus Éireann route that moves through it. A Local Link would be really welcome there where the nearest bus stop is Coill an Bhaile and it is too dangerous to walk to. I think of Louisburgh, where the bus service finishes around 6.30 p.m. and the residents are cut off from the nearest swimming pool where kids want to attend lessons, the theatre or cinema. I welcome the increased investment and numbers but we can think smart about it. We should expand the likes of TFI Anseo more so that we are being flexible and adaptive to the needs of our constituents and boxing clever with the resources we have. That would go a long way.

The Deputy is right that it is about boxing clever and TFI Anseo is a success. I fundamentally agree with her. She mentioned Knockrooskey. It is about that joined-up approach in terms of the local authority with footpaths, the NTA and Bus Éireann. What I would like us to do further as a Department is better linkage in terms of more accessibility and highlighting what the Deputy referenced in terms of the child who wants to do swimming lessons being able to get on a bus, the footpath, the lighting, and having a bus stop on the road. That comes down to an holistic approach by the NTA, the Department, local authorities, local communities and the local bus service providers to make sure that we are more accessible and resilient. People are voting with their feet. We as a Government and a Department are strongly committed to enhancing our Local Link services, as I know the Deputy is. She has been a champion for that for the 12 months I have got to know her and I hope we can work together to deliver further for the people of Mayo.