Seanad debates
Tuesday, 22 October 2024
Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters
Bus Services
1:00 pm
Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael)
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The Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan was meant to connect rural communities. However, there is no regional or Local Link service connecting the communities living between the towns of Athlone and Ballinsloe, a stretch of 20 km. In 2021, the Bus Éireann Galway to Dublin regional route, the 20 and X20 routes, which connected towns and villages in the west, were removed because there were private providers on the route: Citylink and Aircoach. However, since April of this year, Aircoach has withdrawn from the route.
I have raised this on a number of occasions. I worked on video campaigns for the Connecting Ireland programme to promote submissions about this connected route and most recently as a Commencement matter last May.
The loss of the 20 and X20 routes a number of years ago had a major impact. How do people get to medical appointments in Portiuncula University Hospital or primary care? How do students get to college in Athlone? How do they even make their way to train stations? This is a 20 km section of road that is not served. One of the goals of Connecting Ireland was connecting medical and educational establishments.
Moore is a vibrant community. It is very successful and it won more than €100,000 recently to renovate its community centre. It has training and exercise programmes, Fit Farmers, the Movement Mentor and they were on Virgin TV last week. They run concerts and plays and they are the heart and soul of a rural agricultural area.
Moore Community Council, which represents the people in this area, worked on a survey for south Roscommon to gather feedback from these local communities. More than 1,000 responses were received and I would like to share some of this feedback with the Minister of State.
One of the key messages was that without local public transport, it can be very isolating and that their voice should be instrumental in shaping the future of the transportation services to ensure that the needs of communities are met and that no one gets left behind. This is about connecting to essential services, education institutions, and businesses in both Athlone and Ballinasloe, which is crucial. This community wants to be able to boost the local economies by increasing access for people to get into our local shops and, of course, for tourism. It is also about having an affordable travel option for people who do not drive, including older people, young people and those who do not have a car, or where there is just one car per household, and about social inclusion and access to community services.
In this survey, 50% of those surveyed would use this service for further connections. Some 500 people alone would use the service to get to the train station. We discuss loneliness, anxiety and isolation. We know that people are living healthy and active lives and that is what we want to see. We had a gentleman living to 107 years of age in County Roscommon. According to this survey, 900 people alone would use this service for social activities. These are such activities as recreation, shopping, going to the cinema, meeting friends and having a coffee. According to the census office, the number of people aged 65 and over is estimated to have risen by in excess 40% in Ireland between 2013 and 2023, from 569,000 to 806,000 and it is expected to double again to 1.6 million people in Ireland in 2051. The census found that twice as many women aged 75 and over were likely to use the bus at least weekly at 13% compared with only 7% of men.
I am calling to the Minister of State for a review of this regional route? I want us to consider the reinstatement of the Bus Éireann 20 or X20 route as a way to connect rural communities between Galway and Dublin. It existed for decades, it was taken away and now these communities are left with nothing and no access to coaches. It is fair enough that the M4 and M6 motorways can be used but this region in south Roscommon does not have a link for older communities and we are being left behind.
Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising this important topic, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan.
I would like to clarify that the Minister has responsibility for policy and overall funding in respect of public transport but neither the Minister or his officials are involved in the day-to-day management, operation or planning of public transport services.
The statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally rests with the National Transport Authority, the NTA. The NTA works with the public transport operators, who deliver the services and who have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters. That said, I reassure the Senator that the Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options, and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. That commitment is demonstrated through the significant investment that has been made in both services and infrastructure in recent years. As Senator Dolan will be aware, a key objective for local authorities is to continue to address rural social exclusion by integrating Local Link with other public transport services. I am pleased to say that the Government has invested significantly in these services over its lifetime. This includes increased funding for the rural transport programme, from €21 million in 2019 to €57 million this year.
To support this objective, under budget 2024, a funding package of €613.463 million has been secured for public service obligation, PSO, and Local Link services. In recent weeks, the Department of Transport secured €652 million under budget 2025 for public transport, including funds for the continued roll-out of new services next year under the Connecting Ireland programme and the roll-out of new town services. This package includes funding for the continuation of the 20% fare reduction on PSO services, the extension of the young adult card on both PSO and commercial bus services to include 24- and 25-year-olds and the continuation of the 90-minute fare until the end of 2024. Funding has also been secured to support the continued roll-out of new and enhanced bus and rail services this year.
Turning to rural and regional areas, which is the substantive portion of the Senator's question, the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan has been a hugely successful programme since its implementation began in 2022. Passenger numbers on Transport for Ireland Local Link regular bus services have increased by 78% year on year to 3.2 million in 2023. Under the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan, more than 130 new or additional services have been introduced since commencement in mid-2022. Under phase 1 in 2022, 38 new and enhanced services were implemented, while in phase 2 in 2023, 65 new and enhanced services were implemented. This means that more than 190 towns and villages have been connected to the public transport network and around 500,000 people have access to new and enhanced bus services.
In relation to the specific services referred to by Senator Dolan, the NTA, as part of the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan, is working on two proposals along the corridor with Local Link Galway. We are currently reviewing public transport connections between Loughrea, Ballinasloe and Athlone, serving settlements such as Kilconnell and Ballydangan. We also plan to improve evening connections between Galway and Loughrea. This is planned to go to public tender soon. Also in August of this year, an enhanced Intercity service was introduced on the Dublin to Galway rail service.
I reassure Senator Dolan that the Department of Transport, the NTA and the operators are working to ensure the optimised deployment of resources across the public transport network to match changing passenger demand patterns. The Senator made reference to a review. I will let her follow up on that and then come back to her on it.
Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael)
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I welcome students from Greystones Community College on their visit to the Seanad. We are having questions to the Minister of State from Senator Dolan. The Senator is expertly representing her community of Roscommon-Galway and the Minister of State is replying on behalf of the Government. I hope you enjoy your visit.
Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael)
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It is good to hear that there is a proposal that has been considered because it is well overdue. I understand the Minister of State is taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan. It is important that this service be put in place as soon as possible. We are already in year three of the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan. The challenge I have seen is that when the X20 Bus Éireann route was removed, leaving nothing for communities between Ballinasloe and Athlone and between Loughrea and Galway. There are people in those communities who will need to get to University Hospital Galway or Merlin Park University Hospital. We need to have access to healthcare services.
I co-ordinated a video campaign to encourage submissions at the launch of this in 2021 in Roscommon and Galway. I have raised the issue a number of times here. I highlight again that this is a CLÁR funding and just transition area. Moore is roughly 6 km from Shannonbridge. The impact of the just transition is felt there more strongly than in many other regions across the country. We need to ensure there are public transport services to enable people to get to work, hospitals and training. We cannot do so if these services are not in place.
Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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On behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, I thank Senator Dolan for raising this important matter. The Minister and Department recognise the importance of connectivity to people who live and work in Ireland. It is key to bringing life back to our villages, towns and urban centres. As indicated in my initial response, the NTA, which is responsible for public transport in the context of the specific point the Senator raised regarding buses, is working on two proposals along the corridor with Local Link Galway. The NTA is currently reviewing public transport connections between Loughrea, Ballinasloe and Athlone, serving settlements such as Kilconnell and Ballydangan. This is planned to go to public tender soon. There is also an enhanced rail service between Dublin and Galway.
The matters Senator Dolan raised in relation to the provision of specific public transport services or routes is a matter for the NTA, but I will bring them to the attention of the Minister. I suggest that the Senator take the matter up directly with the NTA, particularly on the basis of the work it is doing.