1. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht as the Minister with responsibility for rural proofing and Our Rural Future, the engagement his Department has with State agencies and semi-State bodies to ensure that transport services adequately meet the needs of rural communities. [53140/26]

Sentiment score: 0.23

Transport policy and funding for most transport modes rests with the Department of Transport but I specifically put this question to the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and the Minister, Deputy Calleary, because the onus is on Deputy Calleary's Department to advocate for rural communities with every Government Department to ensure the voices and needs of rural communities are heard and met. That is why I put the question in this context. I will briefly tell the story of Grange in west Waterford. It is a rural community with a significant population which is spread out. A Bus Éireann intercity service that has served the community for a long time no longer serves it because the bus stop was taken away due to road safety concerns. It was not today nor yesterday that councillors on Waterford City and County Council - I was one of them-----

Sentiment score: 0.10

A cross-party group raised issues about road safety there and looked for investment.

Sentiment score: 0.42

The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht needs to engage with local authorities and agencies on funding for these schemes.

Sentiment score: 0.34

That is well and good but the community had a service for many years and it was removed because of a deterioration in road quality due to a lack of investment in road structures. This is on the N25, a road I have mentioned many times to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and to the Department of Transport. Due to the lack of investment - the lack of money available to local authorities to do safety works and put in infrastructure around bus stops - Bus Éireann and Waterford City and County Council had to take a decision, which they did not want to take, to remove the bus stop. A whole community has been left without connection to Dungarvan, Youghal and Waterford city and onward routes. While there absolutely has been progress on Local Link, for many people living in Grange to access Local Link and other transport modes and most public services, they have to get to Dungarvan or Youghal and that is not available to them anymore.

Sentiment score: -0.05