121. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the local link route 199 Glendalough to Bray; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31165/26]

As I have mentioned already today, there has been considerable investment in services throughout the country under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, improving how rural communities access Public Transport. I am pleased to state that passengers are responding to this continued investment, with TFI Local Link services recording a combined 6.97 million passenger journeys in 2025, marking another record year and a 19% increase on 2024.

A great example of this continued investment in Wicklow can be seen in Route 895, which was a new service that commenced in December of 2025 from Glendalough to Sallins via Blessington and offering four daily return trips, and connectivity with Route 183.

In Counties Wicklow, Carlow and Kilkenny, funding increased by 25% between 2024 and 2025, to over €4.6m, boosting passenger numbers by 81%. Another example of improved services can be seen in Route 183, between Arklow and Sallins which was enhanced in early 2025. This enhanced route offers connectivity to Avoca, Rathdrum, Rathnew, Wicklow, Roundwood and Laragh, and improved connections to regional public transport, including a morning connection to Arklow.

I understand there is great demand for these excellent services, and the Department and NTA are focussed on matching that demand. However, in the context of finite resources and other challenges such as driver shortages, the focus currently remains on stabilising the PSO programme as a whole and ensuring services already in place can operate reliably and sustainably.