National Transport Authority Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-14 ============================================================ Patricia Stephenson (SD), Labour Panel I thank the Minister of State for attending to discuss the growing concern about public transport in Carlow and Kilkenny. I recently met with representatives of the National Transport Authority, NTA, who outlined their ambitious plans for Carlow and Kilkenny after I raised a long list of concerns that had been brought to me by residents. The NTA representatives outlined plans for improved connectivity, enhanced rural links and climate-aligned transport policy. It is absolutely fantastic in theory, but the issue is that it is all very much theory at this stage. I was told directly by the NTA's representatives that there is simply no funding available to implement their plans. The Department of Transport is not providing any funding for increased public transport infrastructure for rural communities. Without funding from that Department, those commitments are simply aspirations. It would seem that many will remain aspirational when we consider that the Connecting Ireland and all-Ireland rail review capital spend is down €1 billion from the plans adopted by the previous Government. If the overall capital spend is down by €1 billion, how is the NTA meant to deliver when its budget is so severely reduced? There is no funding to address the new plans, but there is also no funding to address the gaps caused by private providers pulling out. Communities are left dealing with real and immediate service reductions instead of the much-needed enhancements. One of the recent changes last year was to the 717 route operated by JJ Kavanagh & Sons. The axing of key segments of this route through rural parts of Kilkenny, particularly Castlecomer, has had a tangible impact on the people who rely on it daily. As well as being a direct link to Dublin Airport, these are essential links connecting people to their work, education, healthcare and social life and are now gone. Rural communities already face structural disadvantages in accessing transport and decisions like this only deepen that inequality. I have been in touch with the NTA multiple times regarding this route reduction. Following a review, it was deemed a necessary route, which is great, but the NTA told me once again that there is no funding available to fix the gap. If we are serious are balanced regional development, we cannot allow routes like the 717 to be hollowed out and we must provide a public service in its place. Two weeks ago, commuters heard about the axing of the Expressway route 4 service through local media, which is absolutely the wrong way of doing things. It has caused significant concern for the people who depend on that route daily. The NTA has acknowledged that this route carries a public service obligation. That recognition is important, but I was contacted only last night by a representative from the NTA who told me that any plans to maintain this route will depend on funding availability. The NTA representative also said that it should be noted that any measures proposed to be introduced will depend on funding availability. Can the Minister of State give me a clear and unequivocal guarantee that there will be no break in service and no further cuts to the route 4 service, and that the Department for Transport will provide the funding for its continuation? Anything less risks leaving entire communities isolated. Rail services present another set of challenges. The Kilkenny to Waterford line, for example, does not provide a viable option for commuters who need to be in Waterford by 9 a.m. That is a basic requirement for any functioning commuter service, but it is unmet. Capacity issues persist due to infrastructure decisions, including the reduction of platform length in Kilkenny. This has resulted in fewer carriages being used and that is limiting the capacity on commuter trains. I am a regular commuter on this train. I took it this morning and as with most mornings, it was standing room only from Athy onwards to Dublin. This train is always packed. This is an issue that urgently needs to be addressed because limiting passenger numbers at a time when we should be encouraging greater uptake of public transport makes no sense. The lack of late-night train services to and from Dublin on the line is also another glaring gap. At a time when we are urging people to reduce energy consumption and asking people to shift away from car use, the absence of flexible services sends the completely wrong message. I wonder often whether the people making policy on public transport actually use it. I personally depend on the Expressway route 4 and the JJ Kavanagh route 717 to get to and from the airport. I use it all the time either from Kilkenny or Leighlinbridge. I know how crucial these services are for rural communities but when they are systematically cut, it feels like the people implementing these policies do not take the train or bus. I encourage policymakers and Ministers to do so regularly as part of their commute to address so many of these issues. Public transport has to be designed around how people live and work, not confined to narrow operating windows that fail to meet demand. Will the Minister of State commit to the continuation and protect the bus route, Expressway 4, that goes through Mullinavat, Ballyhale, Thomastown, Gowran and Leighlinbridge? --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-04-14/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:48+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-04-14