The new 365 route will provide four daily returns, which will provide access for passengers travelling from Waterford and Carlow to Dublin via the counties in between. Passengers travelling onwards will benefit from connections in Carlow to existing bus and rail services to Dublin and beyond. As I said, the route will be operated by Bus Éireann on an interim basis. The new service will provide four return journeys. It will ensure continued access for passengers travelling from Waterford, Carlow and the surrounding …

First of all, the point the Deputy made in regard to communication is critically important. The NTA should communicate clearly and succinctly people. The route 365 will have four daily return journeys. There will be that continued access but I hear the points Deputy McGuinness has made. I understand what he is saying. Connectivity is important. We have seen the success of Local Link and it has grown exponentially around the country in regard to rural transport. I will communicate the points made very eloquently her…

I am taking the question on behalf of the Minister. As the Deputy knows, offering a more affordable and sustainable alternative for many people, public transport has had a particularly important role to play in responding to the demand driven by fluctuating geopolitical developments, as we have said, which are consequently and consistently impacting the cost of fuel. As we all know, rising fuel costs increases the likelihood of car users switching to public transport. We have seen that but that modal shift is unpre…

The fundamental point Deputy Murphy misses is that we secured an extraordinary allocation of €940 million - an uplift of 43% - for our PSO services in the budget. I reiterate what the Minister said earlier, namely that the focus for this year is on stabilisation. It is about ensuring services that are already in place can operate reliably and sustainably and that we see progressive improvements in other services. The other point is that we are meeting our climate change objectives. More and more people are moving t…

We are meeting them in terms of moving away from fossil fuel vehicles to-----

I am saying that we are moving towards the electrification of the fleet.

We are electrifying the-----

Did the Deputy read the NDP?

Sure that is-----

I know Deputy Murphy does not want to hear good news.

It is the job of the Opposition to hark and bark, and that is all right. We are politicians, and I understand that. One in every four euro is going on public transport investment and one in every eight euro is being spent on public transport. I reiterate that there has been 43% uplift in the budget for this year.

I ask Deputy Murphy to read the NDP for transport. Has he read it?

The Deputy will have read about the Government's commitment to the provision of public transport, the electrification of the fleet, the purchase of new vehicles and the move away from diesel engines.

The Deputy does not want to hear good news. If he had his way, we would have no BusConnects, no Cork commuter rail, no MetroLink and no DART and he would be asking what are we doing.

The reality is that we are developing a transport plan-----

Deputy Ó Broin got his answer earlier and did not like it.

I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister. In accordance with section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, as amended, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority. Work on such roads is funded from councils' resources, supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter in the first case for the local authority. Any new road projects in respect of which State funding is sought are assesse…

Who has failed?

I will ask the NTA to liaise with Kilkenny County Council. As Deputy McGuinness knows, it is mainly the responsibility of Kilkenny County Council to decide its programme for road maintenance. On the safety issue, I will certainly ask the council to liaise and engage, particularly as safety is paramount. I know that Kilkenny County Council has received significant moneys for road protection and renewal works. It is certainly important that there is collaboration and both entities work together to ensure the existing…

As the Deputy will appreciate, I do not have information in respect of that issue. I will certainly ask about the Black Quarry roundabout and ask people to liaise with Deputy McGuinness on the matter. I take the point the Deputy makes that too many cooks spoil everything, but it is important Kilkenny County Council, as the lead agency, can liaise with other stakeholders. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Brien's officials to liaise with Deputy McGuinness.