I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, for being here. I know he is very committed to rural transport and making sure we have connectivity, which is so important. It does not matter what age somebody is; there is a need for connectivity. The town buses are a wonderful example of that. We have had successful pilot schemes in places like Drogheda, Mullingar, Carlow and Portlaoise. Newbridge, the town I am making the case for, is now one of the largest towns. It is growing and developing rapidly. We have quite good inter-city connections and into Dublin with buses and the railway station.

However, there is a serious lack of connectivity within the town itself. Because of the nature of Newbridge, someone can live in the town but be three miles from the railway station, for example. Anybody living on the bigger estates such as Curragh Grange, Liffey Hall and Belin Woods who wants to commute to Dublin would need to have a second car to go to the train station. Parking spaces in the train station are getting congested. The small travel distances of just a few miles are congesting our roads and streets. It makes absolute sense to have a commuter bus to link the train station, our places of education and work and our shopping and health facilities. I was at the five-year celebration of KDP Ireland in Newbridge last week. One of the directors had driven down from Dublin. He made the point to me that he wanted to come by public transport, being a believer in public transport. He could easily have gotten to the train station but then he would have had a gap of four miles. He would have had to get a taxi, so he drove. In a town bus, I am not just looking for a convenience. It would be a strategic investment in mobility, the economic vitality of the town and safety and social inclusion. There is a strong case for the need for this, which I have outlined. There is a strong case for the benefit. I have spoken to people who keep a second car because they need to be able to access the railway station. There is clear evidence and feasibility there. Thousands of people access the commuter train from Newbridge every day. We want to do everything we can to reduce car dependency. A town bus would support local businesses, cut emissions and improve access to services. I am thinking of people who cannot drive and those who are older or who have a disability. People need to have the second car to access the main transport networks. Not having to get a second car for that speaks for itself. I will hand over to the Minister of State.

I thank the Senator for her ongoing advocacy on behalf of the people of Newbridge. She makes a very strong case for the town bus and is 100% correct on reducing car dependency. Like her, I am very passionate about accessibility of services and enhanced connectivity, in this case for people of Newbridge to the town. She makes a very good case in respect of the hinterland, which must also be listened to as part of this debate.

The Minister for Transport has overall responsibility for the policy piece, but funding and delivery are matters for the NTA. The Senator is right and I will work with her on this. Connectivity is so important and rural transport has been a success. The town bus and commuter bus in Newbridge is, I hope, the next piece of that jigsaw. Working with the NTA and the operators, I hope we will see the delivery of the services. The NTA has that responsibility. I assure the Senator that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney and the whole of Government are committed to providing all of our citizens with reliable, realistic, sustainable mobility options. Public transport plays a key role in the delivery of that goal. In our budget for this year, we have seen significant funding of €940 million for the public service obligation, PSO, and Transport for Ireland Local Link services, which has been an increase on the €658 million provided in 2025. More importantly, we are engaging with the NTA on the existing levels of service, in respect of resilience and an issue with driver shortage, which must be addressed to ensure that we can plan for strategic decisions around new routes. The informed debate and decisions will be about that engagement with the NTA.

While we have seen a significant increase in funding to €31 million in 2026, which is a 38% increase, there are gaps.

There are 11 town bus services in Ireland. They are in Kilkenny, Drogheda, Navan, Athlone, Clonmel, Carlow, Portlaoise, Sligo, Balbriggan, Dundalk and Mullingar, and Ennis is planned to start operating next month. Would it not be great to have that in Newbridge? We will look with the NTA at a potential Newbridge town bus service as part of our town bus programme. The NTA is planning new town bus services in both Newbridge and Naas. Public consultation will commence in October and the NTA will provide an online briefing for representatives before that public consultation. I thank the Senator for her advocacy, work and support on that. Representatives of the NTA service planning team will be in Newbridge and Naas for an in-person information public service during that consultation period. There will be an elected public representatives-only slot on the day of one of the public information sessions. This will give those representatives an opportunity to meet the team on more of a one-to-one basis.

The connecting rural Ireland mobility plan is about investment in new and improved public transport services for rural areas, including County Kildare. Under the programme, almost 600,000 people have access to useful daily public transport services for the first time, with 188 new and improved rural regular services provided, resulting in a huge - I think it is fivefold - increase in passenger numbers on rural services. The services provide new transport connections to 41 higher education facilities and 61 healthcare facilities, as well as offering 71 connections to rail services, allowing passengers to connect to the wider TFI network and negating the point the Senator made about the need to buy a second car. The Senator's work and advocacy allow us to make decisions on future programmes and to prioritise the delivery of existing programmes in areas like Newbridge.

I reassure the Senator and the House that I am fully committed to delivering a more sustainable, inclusive and accessible transport system for current and future generations. The Senator is right that it is about getting away from the car and enhanced connectivity.

The NTA is planning for further phases of the town bus programme, which include Newbridge and Naas, with public consultation taking place in October. I am committed to the expansion of the public transport network and to increasing the service throughout the country, including County Kildare. Congratulations on having the ploughing next year in Rathangan.

Woo-hoo.

The Senator mentioned Kildare town as well. The funding for the new and enhanced services in 2027 will be considered as part of the annual Estimates process.

My good friends, Deputy Michael Murphy in the Public Gallery and Senator Maria Byrne, are here. I would not wish the Deputy to be in the Seanad, even though it is a great place to be.

It is important that we get rural transport and connectivity right in the budget.

The Senator has been a strong champion of County Kildare. I have an affinity having spent five years studying in the county. The Senator is right that Kildare, with Cork, is one of the fastest-growing places in the country. The population base is there. That connectivity piece is there. Deputy Murphy and Senator Byrne will argue for Tipperary and Limerick and Senator Andrews will argue for Dublin but the map will show Kildare and Cork are fast growing.

I want to support the Senator on this. I hope that the Ministers, Deputies O'Brien and Chambers, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, will do so as well. I thank the Senator for what she has said this morning.

I will let the Minister of State off, seeing as it is early in the day.

Excuse me. I did take advantage of the clock.

I am always tripping up with it as well.

I was beating the offside trap.

Like a good Cork footballer.

I welcome Deputy Murphy and his guests to the Visitors Gallery. I hope they enjoy their visit. Usually, when visitors are very young, we let them off homework. Do not judge me for making this statement but I suspect they do not have homework, but I am sure he will buy them lunch in the bar or somewhere.