Hear, hear.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, who regrets he cannot be here. As the Deputy will be aware, the final report of the all-island strategic rail review was published in July of last year. The review's recommendations for County Donegal involve the development of a new rail line from Letterkenny to Derry, which connects to a new proposed rail line linking Derry to Portadown. The programme for Government commits to working collaboratively to act on the rail review. Assisted by the European Investment Bank, EIB, advisory services, my Department, the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland and agencies across the island are working to progress the rail review's recommendations for the years ahead. As part of this, a project prioritisation strategy on how to optimise the implementation of the review's recommendations is planned for publication later this year. Officials from my Department and the Department for Infrastructure have also been in contact in relation to sharing the findings of a high-level feasibility study from Translink examining the review's recommendation of connecting Derry and Portadown with a proposed spur to Letterkenny. This study and the ongoing EIB work will help to inform the progression of rail projects into the future. In addition, the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan saw the roll-out of a number of new and enhanced bus services in the north west last year, including to Letterkenny and Donegal town, implemented by the Donegal-Sligo-Leitrim transport co-ordination unit, TCU. As the Minister of State responsible for rural transport, I commend Mary Coughlan and her team in the Local Link service in Donegal, which is a phenomenal success. The volume of people using those buses is extraordinary. More generally, the recently concluded Government review of the national development plan, NDP, has confirmed my Department’s annual capital allocations from 2026 to 2030, and a decision on a programme of transport delivery within the available funding will be made in the coming months. The important issue of connectivity in the north west will be considered as part of that final decision.
Sentiment score: 0.22
I assure Deputy Ward that the Department, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, and I are aware of the needs of Donegal, which I visited in July. It is not correct that the Government has not invested in transport in Donegal. I referenced the Local Link service. We can see the phenomenal investment and growth in that service. I fully acknowledge the Deputy's personal stories of people who have to travel. I met some of those people on my visit to Donegal during the summer. It is important to recognise that the Department is reviewing the key programmes and projects in the transport envelope in the context of the national development plan. That capital funding envelope will include investment in the rail network. As I said, a decision will be made in the coming months within the available funding. The Government is prioritising connectivity in Donegal and the proof is in the roll-out of new and enhanced bus services. I take the Deputy's point on the need for further investment. We are looking at that.
Sentiment score: 0.08
I do not want to get into a political back and forth with Deputy Ward because I respect where he is coming from. However, if we look at the Local Link service in Donegal and talk to the TCU manager there, Fionnuala O'Shea, we see the investment in the 966, 959, 957, 954, 952 and 953 routes. People are using Local Link. If the Government had turned its back on Donegal and was not investing in it, as the Deputy claimed, those routes would not be there. We are investing. I take his point that Donegal is the only county, or one of the few counties, with no rail link. However, in terms of rural transport, the Government is connecting people. I meet them every day. I was struck by the people I met in Donegal in terms of the mobility and connectivity available to them. If we took out the bus service, there would be nothing; I take the Deputy's point on that. However, the Government has been investing in those bus services, which he has not acknowledged at all. We are investing in new routes, new ideas and new connectivity, reducing socialisation marginalisation and connecting people. One example of that is students being able to travel to college.
Sentiment score: -0.01
I thank Deputy O'Flynn for this very important question, and for his commitment to the people of Mallow. I look forward to working with him because we both share a desire to see the town of Mallow continue to flourish and develop. As he is aware, the National Transport Authority's Local Link and rural transport programme is, in the case of Cork, managed and administered in Cork by the Local Link offices in Bantry and Fermoy. Cork has seen considerable investment in regular rural bus services including the introduction of a number of new bus services. The route 530, connecting Fermoy and Mallow, began in August this year. Current passenger numbers are approximately 400 per week and are expected to grow over time as the route settles into operation. Route 243, from Newmarket to Cork via Mallow, was also enhanced in June. Route 515, connecting Mallow to Killarney, is at an advanced stage of planning and the commencement date is subject to the availability of funding. An increase in funding for public transport services, including rural transport, will be considered in the upcoming budget 2026 discussions. Any additional proposals are considered as part of an ongoing review of rural transport and town services. I am informed by the NTA that it has no current plans to introduce an orbital local bus service in Mallow. However, the NTA has told me that it will explore options to provide local public transport connections within Mallow on new and existing local and regional services, subject to securing relevant stopping place approvals and construction of bus stop infrastructure, which is important. In February this year, an Exchequer investment of €713 million for regional and local roads - as mentioned by the Deputy - across the State was also announced, under which Cork County Council received an allocation of approximately €83 million. In this allocation, €700,000 was put aside for the Mallow relief road. The scheme consists of a bypass of Mallow with the objective of removing east-west traffic from the town centre. The options selection phase has been completed, and as the Deputy is aware, a submission to An Coimisiún Pleanála is expected in April 2026. I will conclude on this point. The Government and I believe that the impact of the Mallow relief road project on traffic in Mallow town centre will be significant.
Sentiment score: 0.16
I look forward to working further with the Deputy to alleviate the traffic gridlock.
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I look forward to coming to visit Mallow. Deputy Colm Burke, who is sitting behind me, has also asked me to go there. I look forward to meeting with Deputy O'Flynn in Mallow. I visited Mallow recently.
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Perhaps the Deputy was not there. There is an issue in the centre of Mallow and going from A to B. There is traffic gridlock going to the roundabout heading towards the Killarney Road, coming from Fermoy, which requires a lot of patience and persistence by motorists and cyclists alike. However, let us look at what the Government has done in the town of Mallow in terms of the frequency of the rail service, investing in light rail and public transport, including Leap cards and the station in Mallow. I take the Deputy's point. There is more that we can do. The NTA and TFI Local Link are looking at the whole plan. There is a plan for a regular rural service in the morning and demand-response services. It is important for overall connectivity that we make it easier for people and services there in terms of lighting and getting on and off at bus stops. I will visit Mallow with Deputy O'Flynn.
Sentiment score: 0.05
Perhaps he can bring me to the particular spots where he thinks there should be bus stops as well.
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The line Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I have €92 million more for roads this year and I hope we will have more next year in the budget. There is a real need for this funding. Deputy Colm Burke has a question on the Cork to Limerick motorway. We need that motorway. All of us who travel that road know that is the case from an economic point of view and from a safety point of view, and we want to see the motorway built. The sum of €700,000 has been allocated to the Mallow relief road. That scheme will provide increased scope for development and enhancement of the public realm. To be fair, we do need bicycle lanes and to support active travel measures. Mallow is a thriving town. Deputy O'Flynn is absolutely right. We want to see it grow and develop further. I look forward to seeing that happen for the residents and businesses in Mallow, but it is also part of Our Rural Future, and involves the Department of Transport and my other Department - the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. We want to see thriving towns like Mallow acting as a hub and offering a link. Part of that is an enhanced public transport offering.
Sentiment score: 0.21
I look forward to working with all Members. Deputy O'Flynn referred to other Members of the House. We should bring them on a journey.
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