Local Link service funding
Deputy Collins says new Local Link routes in west Cork cannot start because funding is unavailable. The Taoiseach praises the scheme, notes public spending limits, and says it remains an effective service.
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?
Comment on this
I appreciate that the Deputy is praising Local Link. I remember that it is the Deputy's bête noire, former Minister, Eamon Ryan, who introduced Local Link. Deputy Collins rather shamelessly at the time hopped on the bus and presented it as his own initiative in west Cork. He is always adept at local politics. Local Link has turned out to be very effective and very impactful. I pay tribute to our former colleague, Eamon Ryan, and give credit where it is due, for supporting that. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has continued his support for it. There are always limits to public expenditure in terms of what we can do in any one year but this is a programme that is working for people on the ground in rural Ireland. It has a significant impact on increased socialisation and facilitating movement. We have included a recent €750 million package to support its operation with regard to the increased fuel costs. I will alert the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to Deputy Collins's continued interest in Local Link.