I thank the Minister of State for being here to take this Commencement matter, which relates to the need for a dedicated town bus for Newbridge and its environs. I want to outline first why Newbridge, one of the fastest growing towns not just in County Kildare but, indeed, in the country, urgently requires a dedicated local bus service to serve those who live within the town and, of course, those who visit it for work, leisure or to shop. Newbridge is now a major regional centre. It is home to a large population of almost 30,000 people. There are significant employment zones in Newbridge. Again, it is a major retail destination. We have a very busy commuter rail station. Despite all of that, it remains one of the few towns of its size without an internal bus network linking neighbourhoods to people who really would avail of that every single day. The result is a really strong car dependency that genuinely is no longer sustainable for residents, businesses or the town's future development. Residents in areas such as Roseberry, Athgarvan Road, Greatconnell, Clongorey and the expanding northern and eastern estates have no reliable way to reach the train stations, schools, industrial estates or shopping centre without a car. I regularly speak to people who are living in Newbridge, but they are living 3 km to 4 km from the railway station. They have no choice but to have second car to be able to get there. There are barriers, therefore, when we do not have a bus for that really important connectivity we need for young people, older people, people with disabilities and anyone who simply cannot afford to have a car. It also places a lot of pressure on families who have to organise multiple daily car trips just to access essential services.

The absence of a bus also has wider consequences. Congestion in the town centre has become a daily challenge. With the news over the last few weeks that we are hoping to commence construction of the second bridge in 2027, that might ease slightly. However, the parking demand at the train station regularly exceeds capacity. Short car trips dominate the local traffic pattern and many of these journeys could be shifted to public transport if a dependable service existed. It is not just an inconvenience. It undermines the town's ability to grow sustainably and to meet national climate and transport targets.

A local bus service would not simply be a transport upgrade; it would be an investment in social inclusion, economic opportunity and sustainable growth for one of Ireland's most important regional towns. Two weeks ago, I attended the event with the National Transport Authority, NTA, in Buswells Hotel, taking the opportunity, obviously, to discuss progress and potential expansions we can make to improve the status of transport within Newbridge and connecting Newbridge to neighbouring villages and towns. I was told that, finally, the town bus for Newbridge is in planning stages and other important information. I want again to highlight this. I have been an active advocate for a dedicated town bus. I have no doubt the service would be used and used well. I really hope the Minister of State can today bring me some positive news on this.

Again, I am taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. I thank Senator O’Loughlin for the opportunity to give an update on the dedicated town bus service for Newbridge. As she said, this is an issue she has raised many times.

The Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport, but neither the Minister nor his officials are involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. The statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally rests with the National Transport Authority. The NTA works with the public transport operators, which deliver the services and have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters.

That said, I assure the Senator the Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options, and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. To support this objective, in budget 2026, the Department of Transport secured €940 million in funding for public service obligation, PSO, and Transport for Ireland, TFI, Local Link services, which is an increase from €658 million in 2025. A quick scan of the figures tells me it is an increase of about 40%, so that is substantial.

This will further support subsidised bus and rail services across Ireland, while maintaining targeted fares, including initiatives such as the recently introduced free travel for all children up to the age of nine years, and the young adult card for those aged between 19 and 25 years, as part of the NTA's national fares strategy. The Department continues to engage with the NTA to ensure existing levels of service, resilience and driver shortages are considered and that planning and strategic decisions are informed by both operational and resource considerations.

A total of €31 million has been earmarked for continued investment in our rural transport service provision in 2026. This is a 38% increase on last year's funding. The funding ensures the continued delivery of vital transport services across rural Ireland, building on the significant increase in funding in recent years. In County Kildare and south County Dublin, funding for rural transport increased by 31% between 2024 and 2025, boosting passenger numbers by 42%. A great example of this continued investment can be seen in the enhancement of route 892 between Dunlavin and Newbridge, providing peak time and evening services as well as offering improved connectivity to regional bus and rail services in Kilcullen and Newbridge.

The NTA's town bus programme is a major initiative aimed at enhancing urban bus services, improving connectivity, reducing car dependency and promoting sustainability. Town bus services are frequent, reliable bus routes operating entirely within large towns and linking key destinations such as town centres, retail areas, schools, workplaces, and medical facilities. They also connect to longer distance bus, rail, and Local Link services, making towns more accessible and integrated with the national transport network. The NTA is in the early stages of planning for a further phase of new or improved town bus services under this programme. It is looking at potential new services in Naas, Newbridge, Tralee, Wexford and Tullamore. The timeline for these new services is dependent on planning, infrastructure development and operator procurement.

I welcome to the Public Gallery Darndale community training group. They are all very welcome and I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House. They are guests of Deputy McDonald.

I also welcome our guests and I hope they have an enjoyable and interesting day in Leinster House.

I thank the Minister of State for her response and I am absolutely clear that the Minister has responsibility for policy and funding, which I would argue are the most important parts, and that the NTA has to provide the service. To be fair, I thank the NTA for its regular updates and the opportunity to engage with it always. In any year it has a number of events in Buswells Hotel and Richard Kelly is the Oireachtas liaison person.

I absolutely welcome both free travel for all children up to the age of nine and the young adult card. The companion pass for anybody who has free transport must also be welcomed. The Minister of State mentioned the funding that has been allocated and the increase in Kildare and south County Dublin. The advances we have in terms of the increased capacity on the 126 route, the new 888 service, the 892 route and the plans to extend to Suncroft are incredibly welcome.

The Minister of State made the case very eloquently for a town bus and why any of us would need to have one. I am delighted for the 11 towns that have them, as they are needed, and I am delighted for the two towns that will have them. Those towns whose populations have increased in a large way, such as Newbridge, absolutely should be at the top of the list in terms of the new planning. The Minister of State mentioned the TFI Anseo app, which is being piloted. It is great but it heralds another problem. I mentioned the 888 route and there is a problem because there can be 3 km or 4 km between stops and it is very difficult for those who are not driving to be able to access it. We need proper bus stops, safe places to pull in and, may I add, smaller buses. Part of the problem is that too many Rural Link buses are too large and it is difficult for them to pull over safely. I thank the Minister of State for her response. I want her to bring the message back to the Minister that Newbridge needs to be prioritised at this time in the upcoming plans. I am sure he will then bring it to the NTA.

I reassure Senator O'Loughlin that the Minister is fully committed to delivering a more sustainable, inclusive and accessible transport system for the benefit of current and future generations. I heard her message, which was loud and clear, and I will make sure it is delivered to the Minister.

The Government recognises that transport connectivity is very important for people who live and work in Ireland, and it is key to bringing back life into our villages, towns and urban centres, such as Newbridge, which Senator O'Loughlin mentioned. In the programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, the Government has committed to continued investment in new town bus services. These services are designed to support how people live, work and travel locally, with frequent services, long operating hours and stronger links to the TFI network. There have been a number of roll-outs, including in my constituency, but I will not name them here today. In parallel with these roll-outs, and this is what Senator O'Loughlin wants to hear, the NTA is also planning for future phases of the town bus programme, which include Newbridge. As Senator O'Loughlin has asked me to do so, I will bring this to the attention of the Minister.

I welcome guests of Deputy Malcolm Byrne. They are very welcome to Seanad Éireann and I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House today.