Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2024
56. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide the details of the local link services currently available in counties Cavan and Monaghan, respectively; his plans for additional routes or an expansion of this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21828/24]
View answerThis Government recognises the importance of accessible and efficient transport links in rural Ireland for fostering social inclusion, economic development, and overall quality of life. In support of this, our ambitious plan for rural connectivity, Connecting Ireland, has seen exponential growth in rural transport services over the last few years, with over 100 new and expanded services rolled out since it commenced in mid-2022.
To address specific concerns in rural areas such as County Cavan and Monaghan, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have secured increased funding to improve rural transport services across the country, with funding increasing from €12m in 2016 to €57m in 2024.
This additional funding has resulted in considerable investment in regular, scheduled services in Cavan and Monaghan in recent years, such as the Route 929 Cavan Town Daily Commuter, Route C2 Ballinagh to Cavan General Hospital, Route C3 Cavan Town Route, and Route M2 Monaghan Town Route.
This investment has also resulted in a significant increase in Local Link passenger numbers, where in Cavan/Monaghan there has been a 121% increase, from over 140,000 in 2019 to over 317,000 by the end of 2023.
With regards to future additional and expanded services, the NTA's plans include services covering the M1 Knockatallon to Monaghan Institute, and the enhancement of Route 187 running from Virginia to Kells through Ballyjamesduff, where the public consultation concluded last month. As with all other new services, the implementation of these improvements are of course subject to the availability of continued and increased funding for public transport services as secured under the Annual Estimates Process.
The improvements that have been made to rural transport under this Government are real and tangible and are making a positive difference to people's lives across the country.
