Bus Services

336. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport if funding will be made available to Kerry Local Link to provide additional new routes across the county in 2026, given to date this year, no additional funding has been forthcoming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34253/26]

337. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the ongoing inadequacy of the 120 bus service for residents of Derrinturn and Edenderry, County Kildare; the excessive journey times to Dublin; the accessibility and safety difficulties experienced by vulnerable passengers, including wheelchair users; whether he will engage with the NTA and Bus Éireann to examine incre…

338. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport the current status and expected timeline for the rollout of contactless tap and go payment across public transport services, including Dublin Bus, Go Ahead, Luas and Irish Rail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34281/26]

339. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport the key factors affecting the implementation of integrated contactless payment across the public transport system; the total expenditure to date on upgrades to the Leap card and ticketing infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34282/26]

340. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department or the National Transport Authority has undertaken any comparative assessment of contactless public transport payment systems in operation in other cities, including London and other European cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34283/26]

342. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport to consider providing night services on a bus route as an area awaits the rollout of BusConnects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34304/26]

343. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the efforts to get buses into service (details supplied); whether any of these buses are due to serve routes in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34305/26]

344. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport given the number of fatalities along the Irish coastline in recent years, whether consideration has been given to the use of drone technology to deploy lifesaving equipment, such as lifebuoys or flotation devices, to persons in distress at sea; whether drones could be strategically based at Garda stations and operated remotely from a centra…

354. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Transport the average waiting time to receive a driving test in County Meath for the years 2020 to 2025, and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34453/26]

355. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Transport the number of additional buses that have been added to the fleet to serve commuters in County Meath in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34454/26]

357. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Transport the measures being taken to improve reliability and frequency of the NX (Navan to Dublin) bus service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34456/26]

358. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Transport the measures being taken to improve bus connectivity between Meath and Dublin City Centre during peak hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34457/26]

360. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider introducing additional park and ride facilities in Meath to ease congestion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34459/26]

361. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Transport the plans in place to expand and improve rural bus services under the Transport for Ireland Network in villages such as Ballivor, Longwood and Kildalkey, in county Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34460/26]

381. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport to clarify a matter relating to BusConnects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34706/26]

385. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport his plans for the local link to include Churchill, County Kerry on route 278; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34787/26]

394. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the current estimated cost of the Tivoli bus depot; the length of time it will be used for; and the timeline for opening it. [34920/26]

395. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the number of second hand buses transferred to Cork in 2026 and 2025 respectively. [34921/26]

396. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the reason the Tivoli depot has been delayed. [34922/26]

425. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport the progress on the commitments to allow flexible pickups on Local Link and other bus routes in rural communities, as appropriate, enhancing service accessibility, as per the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35217/26]

426. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport the progress on the commitment to work to integrate Local Link transport routes with health services to improve access for individuals seeking care, as per the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35218/26]

436. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Transport for an update on Connecting Ireland route 826 which will service Mullingar, Kinnegad, Edenderry, Clonbullogue, Bracknagh, Portarlington, Monasterevin and Kildare village; the expected commencement date of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35288/26]

445. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the VAT treatment applicable to coach and bus operators based in the State compared with operators based in Northern Ireland providing similar cross-Border and tourism services; whether his Department has assessed the impact of any differences in VAT treatment on operators based in the State; if he will outline any legislative …

457. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance to outline the VAT treatment applicable to coach and bus operators based in the State, including those providing cross-border and tourism services; whether his Department has undertaken any assessment of the impact of current VAT arrangements on the competitiveness of such operators; any engagement he has had with relevant stak…

188. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport if he will review correspondence (details supplied); if he will examine the exclusion of a village in County Leitrim from a rural transport route that provides connectivity to a neighbouring county town which has traditionally served as the primary service centre for that area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33447/26]