74. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the ongoing plans within his Department that exist to address the continuing challenges that communities in rural areas face with the cost of and access to transport services; if it will be included in a new future development strategy for rural Ireland to replace Our Rural Future; his plans for such a new strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14916/25]

Sentiment score: 0.03

I ask the Minister and Minister of State about the ongoing plans in the Department about the continuing challenges facing communities in rural areas such as the cost of and in accessing transport services. Are those plans are included in new future development for Our Rural Future, as presented by the Government? Will the Minister of State make a statement on the matter?

Sentiment score: 0.03

I thank the Minister of State for coming in today and for his kind words. I look forward to working with him as we did previously in the Seanad. I welcome that Deputy Buttimer is the new Minister of State with responsibility for rural transport, because one of the issues we discussed before was the M7, which was unfortunately a car park again this morning. I hope we can develop that idea. An Indecon report on rural transport was written in the past year. I believe it is with the Minister of State at the moment. I would like to know the status of that. I put on the record again the difference that Local Link makes. My Kildare-south Dublin Local Link is a tremendous service. It has been a life-changer for many people. There are issues with developing and linking it, particularly with school transport. I believe that Local Link and school transport should act together and provide that service for those who are living in rural Ireland and the villages that need it. Will the Minister of State comment on that in his reply?

Sentiment score: 0.13

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I think it is important to mention a few Local Link services. The 883 service has been a game-changer for many people in my home town, Athy. It links them in and allows them to get employment in the likes of Kildare Village and Newbridge. It is a game-changer and it should be expanded. One of the issues is for the village of Nurney, which does not have a Sunday service, because that link has no Sunday service. That will be a game-changer for villages that have been isolated, as the Minister of State said, and need the links. The Government has expanded the 880 service and it has made a difference. There is no doubt, throughout rural Ireland, that Local Link is making a difference. School transport and seven-day Local Link services are badly needed. I ask the Minister of State to go back and look at this once again. I mentioned the village of Suncroft before. We have been waiting on a service there. I am working with the local manager, Alan Kerry, to provide that service. The village of Suncroft has no direct services to the towns of Kildare and Newbridge. It is badly needed. I will continue to work with the NTA. The Minister of State might speak to the local services and the NTA about the village of Suncroft. I appreciate the Minister of State's replies.

Sentiment score: -0.06