To ask the Minister for Infrastructure whether the business case for the North West Transport Hub contained commitments in terms of (i) cross-border; and (ii) local bus routes stopping at the Hub; and how these are being fulfilled.

I can confirm that, following a successful application to the EU’s INTERREG VA Programme, administered by the Special European Union Programmes Board (SEUPB), for the North West Transport Hub the following public transport targets were agreed:

Enhance local services to 594 return trips per week. Local service FY15 extends across the border to Muff in Co. Donegal

Enhance cross border services from current level of 102 trips per week to 165 return trips per week

Provide increased number of shuttle services between the bus and rail stations in Derry to match the hourly rail service into Waterside Station. (increase from current 69 return journeys per week to 117 per week)

COVID-19 has significantly impacted on people’s ability to travel both locally and cross border. In light of the changes to travel, SEUPB has commissioned a series of public surveys that will allow an opportunity to monitor baseline usage and provide context where the targets may differ from those initially intended, prior to COVID-19 lockdowns. My Department continues to work with SEUPB on this to ensure that the targets remain appropriate and ambitious for the circumstances that we face. It is planned that the results of the survey will be published by later this year.