Bus Services

421. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the status of the proposed bus route 256 under the Connecting Ireland Programme, including the expected timeline for its introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28678/26]

424. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his Department has plans to amend the excise rebate scheme to make it easier to navigate and more cost effective for small bus operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27896/26]

426. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the reason bus drivers are not permitted to register for VAT; and if there any plans to change this. [27897/26]

194. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the policy basis for requiring Bus Éireann’s expressway services to operate on a fully commercial and unsubsidised basis; whether his Department has considered the potential role of PSO supports for routes that provide essential regional connectivity but may not be commercially viable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27…

195. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department or the NTA was consulted in advance of the recent decision by Bus Éireann to cancel certain expressway routes following its operational review; whether an assessment has been undertaken of the potential impact of these cancellations on regional connectivity and passenger access to public transport; the number of …

188. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the absence of a direct public bus service to Dublin Airport for residents of Fairview, Clontarf, Marino, Raheny and the surrounding north Dublin coastal areas; whether consideration has been given to introducing a direct airport bus service serving these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27448/26]

191. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the specific time periods that are defined as peak times for the purposes of the higher service frequencies referenced therein, including where such frequencies are identified for Route 4 and Route 424 in respect of the Galway BusConnects Network frequency table published by the National Transport Authority (details supplied); and if he wi…

195. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Transport for the details of each of the local link routes currently operating within Offaly; the number of passengers per route; the details of the service provider for each route; the cost associated with the provision of each route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27645/26]

196. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Transport to confirm that local link route 10062, Stradbally to TUS Athlone via Portarlington will run until the end of May 2026 to align with end of term assessments and exams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27647/26]

606. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on bus services for the Cappagh Road, Galway city; which services are now PSO services; which company is providing these services; if there are specific obligations on the service provider regarding frequency of services, provision of real time monitors or other obligations; and if he will make a statement on the ma…

607. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the use of the M4 bus lane; and the legislative changes required. [23559/26]

626. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to recognise commercial bus and coach providers who provide services such as school transport, coach tourism, scheduled services and private hire, as a significant stand-alone entity in terms of proposed interventions for financial supports given the sudden surge in fuel prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [237…

627. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport if considering the estimated €30 million additional annual fuel burden across the commercial bus and coach industry and the fact that services are now being delivered at a loss placing school transport, rural connectivity, tourism flows and local employment at real and immediate risk, if he will consider targeted supports for those companies…

633. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport if Local Link services planned for rollout in 2026 under the Connecting Ireland Plan will be delivered in 2026; and if not, if it is delayed until next year to account for this delay. [24002/26]

634. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport to produce details of each Local Link service planned for rollout in 2026 under the Connecting Ireland, by county, to include route, date approved and proposed service start date, in tabular form. [24003/26]

635. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport if the planned Local Link Waterford service between Dungarvan and Carrick-on-Suir will be delivered this year as initially planned. [24004/26]

651. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport to request the NTA to publish publicly the data for buses which fail to turn up and the reasons given by the bus operators for these failures to show; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24225/26]

675. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if Kilflynn Village could be included on the route 13 Limerick to Tralee Bus Éireann Expressway service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24443/26]

689. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will provide the necessary funding to the NTA to establish a bus service between Athenry and Galway City; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24789/26]

690. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Transport to outline the types of vehicles/drivers that have permission to use bus lanes; if this will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24836/26]

701. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport if TFI Local Link will provide a door-to-door service for people with disabilities who are unable to travel to a local pick-up point in nearest village; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25079/26]

703. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Transport if he will intervene in relation to the announcement that Bus Éireann plans to withdraw the Expressway route 4 service between Waterford and Dublin/Dublin Airport from May 2026, cutting off and isolating rural villages and towns in Carlow Kilkenny with a view to getting this bus service to continue; and if he will make a statement on…

704. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport to request the NTA to give favourable consideration to increasing Local Link services to a rural, remote communities in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25166/26]

705. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport to request the National Transport Authority (NTA) to give favourable consideration to linking Glencar (details supplied) to and from Glenbeigh, Dromid, Gap of Dunloe, Killarney, Kenmare and Cahersiveen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25167/26]

706. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport to request the National Transport Authority to acknowledge the tremendous work carried out by Local Link Kerry and provide the necessary funding to allow them to provide additional important new routes throughout the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25168/26]