Local Link has been a game-changer for many communities throughout the country. I pay tribute to all those who have helped to deliver the service but, alarmingly, in recent times, new services where tenders were sought and received have been unable to run due to funding constraints. Services from Dunmanway to Clonakilty, Grange to Timoleague, and Bantry via Kealkill to Macroom were put out to tender seven or eight months ago. They were tendered for and now they have been told there is no money to run the services. This, coupled with the NTA's stubborn resistance to including small additional loops in populated areas like Castletownsend, Mizen Head, Rinville and Oranmore in Galway, or on the extension of the Mayo anseo rural link from the Louisburgh, Killeen, Drummin and the Roonagh harbour hinterland is leaving people deeply frustrated. We found out last week that over €500 million of National Oil Reserve Agency, NORA, fuel tax has not been spent and remains in Government funds. Will this money be spent on these new transport services?

Sentiment score: -0.20