Vol. 1075 No. 5
76. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Transport the actions his Department is undertaking to deliver contactless payments on all public transport; the estimated timeline for the introduction of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63320/25]
Will the Minister of State outline the actions his Department has undertaken to deliver contactless payments on all public transport and the estimated timeline for the introduction of this?
Like the Deputy, I am eager to see next generation ticketing rolled out on the Irish public transport system. I look forward to seeing its introduction as part of BusConnects Dublin before ultimately being delivered across the entire public transport network. Many people have seen contactless ticketing systems in other countries and feel like it is taking a long time to deliver here. As I have previously explained, which was in the reply to another question I did not have to answer, we introduced the new Leap ticketing system as the financial crisis took hold and investment in updated ticketing technology was held back. The good news is that we now have the funding available to make the move to new ticketing technology and the National Transport Authority, NTA, has entered into a contract with Indra to deliver the project.
The initial focus of the project is on the greater Dublin area, to be rolled out in four phases. This is a major, complex project, with an estimated capital cost of over €160 million to implement it in the greater Dublin area alone. Phase 1 is due to launch in September 2027. It will test contactless payment on a number of new validators or ticket machines. Phase 2 will be ready in summer 2028, allowing passengers on Dublin's bus and Luas services to use the next generation ticketing technology, including contactless payments on validators. Plans for phases 3 and 4 remain under development at the moment.
The project’s governance structure is in line with the governance requirements of the infrastructure guidelines and, as an ICT project, it has been subject to appropriate scrutiny under Circular 02/2016.
At a recent meeting with the NTA, the Minister emphasised the project's importance to the travelling public. He is looking forward to rolling out next generation ticketing over the next years.
It is disappointing to hear that this important development will not be rolled out for a number of years. As the Minister of State said, many other countries have had contactless payment options rolled out for years. However, we are still waiting for a trial run for the Dublin bus network, never mind elsewhere in the State. It is reflective of the wider failure of the current and previous Governments to keep up with technological advances. Another example of this is that TFI currently has five different smartphone apps for different public transport services, including a journey planner app, a Leap card top-up app, a taxi driver database app, an app for public transport tickets and an app for local services in certain parts of the State. Clearly, there is a need to amalgamate some of these apps to make getting public transport a more user-friendly and accessible experience. Are there are any plans to streamline these apps? Does the Minister of State intend to engage with the NTA on this?
With next generation ticketing, there is much to take into account, since the scope of what it will deliver covers all public services, buses, trams and train stations, including bus validators, ticket machines, ticket vending machines, station gates, tram and train platform validators, and an account-based ticketing solution delivered on modern cloud-hosting technology. It is important to note that it is not just a matter of giving somebody a card or going contactless. This is next generation ticketing and it will be used for a good number of years. It is not like a Leap card system, which is very simple. It is important to make sure that whatever we use is fit for purpose and is tested before it is rolled out fully. It is better to do it right and make sure it is right at the end.
I ask the Minister of State to comment on the streamlining of the various apps that exist to make it an easier experience for commuters. In addition, making a virtual Leap card available would be a major step forward in making the public transport system more user-friendly. The Leap card was first launched in 2011, for the Dublin area, and 14 years on, there is still no digital or virtual version available. Such digital cards exist in many cities around the world. They include the Clipper card in San Francisco and the Presto card in Toronto. Are there plans as part of this to develop a digital or virtual Leap card? Is there any timeline for same?
I will have to check that out for the Deputy and see what plans there are. When we are introducing a new system like this, as has often been seen in the past, if it is not done right, it can cause huge problems and there can be significant anxiety and frustration when the system is not working right. The idea is to introduce a small number of bus, tram and train validators, test them and prove their functionality first. It is important that we do that before committing to large-scale deployment.
I agree with the Deputy that we were slow to get to this. Owing to what happened in the economy in 2007 and 2008, this was put on the back burner because it was not deemed to be essential. Nowadays, with the demand for public transport and people wanting to use it, we have to provide this technology to make sure that people get tickets and get onto trains, buses and trams with ease.
77. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update with timelines for the restoration of the Derry to Dublin air link. [63485/25]
The announcement by the Government after such a long time that it will restore funding for the Dublin to Derry air link is extremely welcome. The population of the north west of Ireland is about 500,000. The removal of this air link was devastating and continued to devastate us for a long time. We need to get it restored as soon as possible. I want to get timelines for when we will have this link restored.
I thank Deputy Mac Lochlainn for the question. I am taking it for the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, who cannot be here tonight. The programme for Government includes a clear commitment to engage with relevant stakeholders to establish air connectivity between Dublin and City of Derry airports. The Department of Transport is progressing the preparatory work necessary to establish a Dublin-Derry public service obligation air service in 2026. This service will enhance connectivity for the north west of the island pending progress on an upgrade to the A5 road transport corridor by the Executive, to which the Government has made a €600 million funding commitment.
As Deputy Mac Lochlainn will appreciate, significant engagement is required to establish this service. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has met representatives of Donegal County Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council and City of Derry Airport, where progress on the establishment of this service was discussed. Officials from the Department of Transport are engaging closely with the Department for the Economy in the North, the Department for Transport in the United Kingdom and City of Derry Airport, as well as with the European Commission in relation to any potential state aid implications and obligations. This close engagement will continue over the coming months.
Stakeholder engagement is also vital and in this regard a market sounding exercise is being progressed by the Department of Transport for publication in the coming weeks. This exercise will seek views on the specification required to meet expected demand for the service in terms of aircraft capacity, fare structures, frequency and timing of services. It is also expected that this engagement will confirm the interest in and recognised benefits of the PSO air service for stakeholders in Derry and the wider north-west region. As Deputy Mac Lochlainn will know, following this, it is anticipated that a tender for the PSO air service will be published by the Department of Transport early next year, with a view to services commencing by October 2026, or earlier if operationally feasible.
The Deputy has been a long-time advocate, to be fair to him. When he and I served in the Seanad, he raised this matter there too. I assure him that the current timetable is the optimal timeline to ensure that the detailed work required to establish a service on this route can be completed so that a new service can be launched successfully. As he knows, the shared island fund is committed to this. I look forward to working with the Deputy and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on delivering services for the people of the north west.
Some 40% of the passengers who use the City of Derry Airport are from Donegal. The Minister of State understands the geography of Derry and how close it is to Donegal. It serves a region of about 500,000 people. If he gets a map of Ireland out, he will see that, unfortunately, we do not have a motorway connection. Our hearts have been broken with the A5 delays. We do not have a direct rail connection from Derry to Dublin and on to Donegal, so this air link is vital. It has been a long battle but it is good news and I welcome the Government's funding of it. I would like to bring it forward as soon as possible. From talking to the airport team, they feel confident they can do this in the first half of next year. I ask the Government to work in partnership with the airport. Let us take this project home. It will be a good news story for all the north west when it happens.
I understand Deputy Mac Lochlainn's need to get this expedited. He makes a good point about there being no rail and no motorway, and the A5 delay. We should compliment the wonderful Local Link service in Donegal. The Deputy right. I will bring his comments back to the Department officials. I assure him that the current timeline proposed is the optimum one to ensure that important stakeholder engagement and the preparatory work are completed and we can deliver this important service. He is right that we share this. It is an important service that needs to be delivered. It would provide subsidised transport connectivity for the people of Derry and, by extension, Donegal, particularly north-east Donegal. It would also complement the Donegal and Dublin PSO air service which serves the western region of Donegal well. It is important that we have joined-up connectivity for the north west. It will improve transport connectivity. I concur with the Deputy that it is necessary.
In addition, the proposed timeline has also taken into account the lead time, which is necessary for the successful carrier to set up operations and sell fares on the new route. I assure the Deputy that, from our end, we will not be delaying this. We all want to see this service up, running, supported and used, because it is critical. I take the Deputy's point on board.
78. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport his plans to ensure that public transport is fully accessible to all; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62394/25]
My question is about the changes arising from the roll-out of BusConnects across Dublin and the accessibility issues that are coming into focus. We need to ensure that our public transport system is fully accessible to all who rely on it. I ask the Minister of State to outline the plans to ensure that public transport systems like BusConnects and the improvements being made to the Dublin Bus network are fully accessible to all.
From a policy perspective, the Government announced the national human rights strategy for disabled people on 3 September 2025. Pillar 5 of the strategy, "Transport and Mobility”, contains a number of transport priority actions, which I am proud to say will be led by our Department. The strategy puts great importance on engagement with disabled people.
The Minister, Deputy O’Brien, met with members of the disability sector on 29 September last for a constructive dialogue around our shared ambition to ensure 100% transport accessibility in Ireland. I have also met them. The Minister and I welcomed the opportunity to hear views on transport accessibility and the pillar 5 actions at the start of the new strategy. It was a valuable and rewarding exchange with disabled persons organisations, service providers, disability user groups and board representatives from transport operators. I believe that only by engaging with those who have lived experience of disability can we truly remove the barriers they face daily. I commend Ciarán Delaney from Cork, who has briefed me extensively on this very important issue.
In short, I want disabled people, whether they live in urban or rural areas, to have the same access to choice in their transport options as everyone else. As Deputy Ó Muirí will know, there are three aspects to improving public transport accessibility: ensuring a universal design approach in all new infrastructure, addressing legacy infrastructure deficits and enabling independent travel. We have an ambitious programme of investment planned for the next five years, all of which will adhere to the principles of universal design and, therefore, help deliver a more inclusive transport network in the years ahead. The real challenge is legacy infrastructure. To give an example, the major accessibility upgrade which opened at Athy station on 4 November was funded from this programme. The Minister has increased funding under the accessibility retrofit programme by 67% this year when compared to last year. We will maintain that increased level of funding under the new NDP.
I fully support BusConnects. As the Minister of State mentioned, there is major investment going into that programme, which has been under way for a number of years. Nonetheless, it is important that it is accessible. The Clongriffin corridor of BusConnects is heading for CPO in my own area, and it will plug into the great work done by Dublin City Council on the C2CC. However, we have had accessibility issues raised with us by constituents in regard to phase 7 of that roll-out.
The 123 bus service in my and Deputy Heneghan’s area was well used and was an essential service for many. It has now been replaced by the NTA with a new route, the 73, which travels down Gardiner Street on the east side of the northside, leaving elderly commuters with an additional 400 m to walk to get to O'Connell Street and to get back to the bus. How is this accessible for elderly commuters? If people are heading back to the northside, there is now no stop between Ormond Quay and Eden Quay, which is a distance of nearly 1 km. How is this accessible for elderly commuters? For citizens with mobility challenges, this is a very serious barrier to accessing the north city centre.
The Deputy’s points are relevant, and I will take them back to the NTA and Dublin Bus. It is not about making it difficult for people. It is about ensuring they can have accessibility. The work we are doing to make public transport accessible for older or disabled people must not count for nothing. It is about that reliability piece, but it is also about accessibility and not creating a barrier. I will bring that back. The other point that is worth making is that while the retrofit programme is important, if we cannot have the bus stop at the nearest point for people to help them to access public transport, we are missing something. I will certainly bring the Deputy's comments back to the relevant stakeholders.
I welcome the ambition to add to the capacity of Dublin Bus’s network and to make it more efficient. They are the fundamental principles of BusConnects. The benefits to the city and the wider Dublin area, all the way from the suburbs into the city centre and beyond, are enormous. However, there is still some way to go. To go back to the 73 service, buses are bunching, with two or three buses in a row and then no bus coming for 30 to 40 minutes. Again, senior citizens are left standing. The bus stop on Eden Quay does not actually show on the stop that it is the 73 service, although it shows 73 bunched on the digital display. Older citizens are unhappy using the new stops on Gardiner Street because, to be honest, they just do not feel safe after dark. While I welcome the overall thrust of BusConnects, the NTA has to look at these issues. I appreciate the Minister of State's offer to bring the issues back. I ask him to do that so the NTA can respond and actively listen to citizens, in particular older citizens who use that service every day.
I also wish to raise the issue of the 123 service. Multiple constituents, in particular the elderly and people with disabilities, are very upset about the change. They had a routine set as to where the bus was ending, but now there has been a change, not only of the bus number but also the destination. I welcome that the Minister of State will look into this. These people are set in their ways. They really liked what was there and they are upset about the current status. Deputy Ó Muirí and I receive the exact same emails on this. The elderly and people with disabilities need this to be looked at and they need the 123 service to finish near O'Connell Street, where it once did. That will make it more accessible, get people into social situations and allow them to go about their day-to-day business.
I thank the Deputies for their comments. I do not have the specific answers to their questions but I will take them back. I thank them for the geography lesson on Dublin city and routes 73 and 123. The points the two Deputies make are very important. If we are asking people to have independent travel and encouraging the 15-minute concept of the city, then older people need to be able to access public transport. There is no point in having free public transport if they cannot access it. The points made by both Deputies are very relevant.
In the broader context, it is critical for the NTA to communicate, engage and respond proactively and actively to what the Deputies have raised tonight. It is about the citizen. It is about the active travel user. It is about the disabled person and the older person. The Deputies have very eloquently given testimony on the importance of older people being able to use public transport. I will communicate their views to the NTA. I apologise that I do not have answers to their specific questions, but I will take their views and concerns back.
79. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the upgrade of real-time tracking of Dublin Bus services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63502/25]
I ask the Minister of State for an update on the upgrade of real-time tracking of Dublin Bus services through a new national automatic vehicle location system, which was due to start testing this year, roll-out next year and be completed in early 2027 to improve customer communications, particularly around ghost buses.
I thank the Deputy for her question and for her ongoing engagement on the matter of Dublin Bus services. Like her, I am eager to see improvements in real-time tracking, not just of Dublin Bus services, but nationwide across the whole public service obligation, PSO, fleet. The Dublin Bus automatic vehicle location system feeds information to the bus operator's control room, TFI Live app and on-street signs. It dates from 2009. A new automatic vehicle location system is due to be rolled out initially on Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland Dublin city buses. I expect this will lead to significant performance improvements and improved quality of information for bus passengers.
The NTA is currently in the system-testing phase of the project. As the system is very large and complex, this activity will continue and will be repeated as necessary until the NTA is satisfied that features work as intended and that all major defects are resolved, in order for the NTA to be confident that the solution is fully functional and sufficiently robust to be installed on buses. Subject to the systems successfully passing the detailed testing phases that are under way, a pilot implementation is scheduled to commence early next year. Assuming no issues are found during the pilot, full roll-out on buses in Dublin and other cities will commence next year. The roll-out should be complete in early 2027. In total, approximately 1,800 buses nationwide will have to have the new system installed on them. This is part of a wider effort to update vehicle tracking infrastructure across the PSO fleet and to improve public bus systems through BusConnects in our cities, which will improve both the accessibility and reliability of our bus system, particularly through the construction of core bus corridors.
The TFI app has a star rating of 1.4 in the app store, and that is pretty damning. The Minister of State might remember that the last time we were here, we exposed that in one year, 2022, only €97 was spent enhancing Dublin Bus services in Dublin West. Since then, I have had a commitment that €700,000 will be spent in 2025 on addressing capacity and punctuality issues on routes 39A, 37 and 38. I had previous commitments here about route 70. That investment cannot come soon enough, and we actually need more now.
I welcome the confirmation that the new automatic vehicle location system will undergo a pilot. It had been mooted for this year, but now it is to be early next year, with the full roll-out thereafter. I would like to hear more information about that pilot. In what areas will it work, how will it work, and will customers be a part of it? I suggest using Dublin West. The new system can rebuild trust in the bus network, with no guesswork and no contradictions. Real-time information must mean real accountability.
There is nothing on which I disagree with Deputy Currie regarding the matters she has raised. As she knows, the NTA has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the development of real-time systems. The Deputy made a good point on the app. The rating is quite poor. To be fair to her and other Members, but her in particular, she has raised the matter repeatedly. I know from talking to people who work and live in Dublin that they are concerned about the lack of real-time information. I will ask the NTA to engage with the Deputy directly on the matters she has raised because, to be fair to her, she deserves an answer, as do the travelling public. If there is no reliability, what we are trying to do will fail completely, particularly in respect of engagement with customers.
As the Deputy knows, the NTA has awarded a contract to Trapeze to implement and support national automatic vehicle location for all PSO buses. I will ask it to engage with the Deputy also because it is important that the specialist transport systems company hear from users and public representatives articulating the frustration and views of the travelling public. We are seeing growing demand in public transport, but in tandem with that we need to see the app working because, as the Deputy knows quite well, if confidence in the app is lost, the whole system falls down. I will engage with the Deputy again.
If the Minister of State is engaging with the NTA, I would like specific answers about the pilot and how it is going to work. There are currently two issues: the forthcoming automatic vehicle location system and real-time information on the app. I was assured that the team was reviewing the end-to-end process of cancelling services on the current real-time passenger information system to see where improvements could be made. Apparently, there are six technical staff working collaboratively with a similar number of personnel from the transport operator. They are in regular contact. I would like to know what improvements have been made in 2025 regarding the communication of cancelled services. There is no point saying the system works well, which I hear in responses to my parliamentary questions, and that most people find it very useful if it leaves customers stranded on the side of the road expecting a bus when none is coming, with no explanation or apology. Sometimes, it is the last bus due that does not turn up, which is unacceptable when travelling alone and in the dark. So many young people contact me to say this is the case. It should be a simple ask to tell passengers if a service is not running, not just in the automatic vehicle location system but also in the current system.
She has made a very fair point. The network redesign and delivery by the NTA has continued over the past four years. It has rolled out the sixth phase of the redesigned bus network in Dublin, which includes state-of-the-art ticketing and providing cashless and account-based ticketing across bus and other public transport networks. We have seen new bus liveries, standardising the exteriors and interiors of buses across bus operators, along with new bus stops and shelters, but also providing enhanced bus stops with better route, fare and timetable information.
I will certainly ask the NTA to come back to the Deputy on her point on real-time passenger information. If people have no confidence in real-time passenger information, we are at nothing, leaving the whole system to break down.
There is a rating of 1.4 on the app.
I fully concur that a rating of 1.4 on the app is not good enough. I know from my city, Cork, that people are concerned about buses not turning up, be it the late-night bus or the last bus, which the Deputy mentioned. We really have to improve on this. I will ask the NTA to engage directly with the Deputy.
80. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Transport when the promised increase on bus route 132 will finally happen, given the increased traffic volumes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63503/25]
The only public transport from most of west Wicklow to Dublin is the 132 bus. We have no trains. It travels only four times daily, with the last bus leaving Baltinglass at 3 o’clock and the last leaving Dublin at 5.30 p.m. Last April, I met officials of the NTA and was told a very significant increased service – representing a doubling – was happening later in the month. Nothing has happened since. This is exceedingly frustrating.
I thank Deputy Timmins for the matter he has raised tonight. As Minister of State in the Department responsible for transport, I recognise the vital role that enhanced connectivity plays in supporting communities across rural Ireland, including in County Wicklow. The Deputy raised it during the last Question Time. I reassure the Deputy that improving the accessibility, reliability and affordability of rural public transport, while ensuring the system remains well-funded and responsive to passenger needs, is a core priority under the programme for Government.
The NTA plays a central role in achieving this as it has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators. The NTA and the operators, including Bus Éireann, are in continuous dialogue regarding the operational needs, subject to funding and resource availability.
The NTA has advised the Department that plans to enhance route 132 are at an advanced stage. The Department of Transport sets the overall policy direction and funding framework for the delivery of public transport services nationwide, including Connecting Ireland, which has delivered over 180 new or improved services since 2022, connecting more than 240 towns and villages to the public transport network. The 2026 PSO funding allocation of €940 million represents a significant 43% uplift in the allocation from last year. This allocation will allow existing public transport services to operate reliably and sustainably throughout the year in the face of growing passenger demand and increased operational costs. In addition, a further €31 million has been secured for rural transport next year, a 38% increase on last year’s funding. This ensures the continued delivery of vital services across rural Ireland to meet demand, especially for the communities most dependent on these services.
All those things are wonderful around the country, but they are having zero impact on the 132 service. After much correspondence, the NTA is now saying this cannot progress as the Department of Transport has placed a hold on uncommitted expenditure for new public transport services. Can this issue be resolved? Many people have approached me saying they would use the service but cannot because of the limited timetable. The last bus leaves Baltinglass at 3 o’clock in the afternoon and the last leaves Dublin at 5.30 p.m. In fact, there is now a proposal to abolish a Thursday service from Carnew, which joins this route in Baltinglass. Therefore, the service is actually being reduced.
The Department advises that it and the NTA are currently engaging in relation to funding the PSO programme. The Minister is saying funding is not a problem. To say I am deeply frustrated is an understatement. Can we please get to the bottom of this?
I understand the Deputy’s frustration. He is right to be frustrated because it is important that we have connectivity. I am informed that the enhancement of route 132 is planned under Connecting Ireland. Operational decisions regarding service delivery are the responsibility of the NTA in collaboration with transport operators, subject to funding and resource availability. I will happily sit down with the Deputy and talk to him again about this because it is important that we enhance connectivity, do not discommode people further and allow people the convenience of transport connectivity and accessibility. As the Deputy knows quite well, post-budget discussions around the allocation of funding for the PSO programme are ongoing. It entails regular engagement between the NTA and operators on resource needs. I am acutely aware of the issues the Deputy has raised with me both here in the House and in private, and I will certainly work with him to ensure a service between Carnew and Baltinglass so the people of Baltinglass will not be discommoded further.
I do not have positive news for the Deputy right now, but I will sit down with him and talk to him further on the matter, because it is important that we enhance Connecting Ireland for the people of the area he has spoken about.
I thank the Minister of State. I welcome the possibility of engaging with him further on the matter.
Another issue I have had is that many people contacted me complaining about the reliability of the service due to cancellations. Recently, I received a text describing how 20 people waited at the bus stop for the 9.40 a.m. 132 bus to Dublin, but it did not show up again. That is 20 people whose day and plans were ruined. If there is an issue, can a back-up plan be put in place? Another issue, which I have witnessed myself, one that is unforgivable, is buses departing earlier than the scheduled time and people missing them as a result. There must be zero tolerance for this.
There is no excuse for people missing buses or buses leaving before the scheduled time. It goes back to Deputy Currie’s point about real-time information. The important point is that we have an increase in demand. There is a real commitment by the Government to ensure that the services we operate, particularly in the areas the Deputy mentioned, meet the need. Again, as I said to the Deputy, I will engage with the Deputy, the NTA and Local Link to ensure that we see services and accessibility as part of what he spoke about tonight. It is not about discommoding people but rather, offering accessibility and connectivity, as well as having that choice which we have not seen up to now.
As Minister of State with responsibility for rural transport, it is a core priority of mine and of the Department to ensure that commitments in terms of enhancing rural transport are met. I will happily engage with the Deputy further on the matter.
81. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on the recent salary increases of CEOs of commercial State bodies under the aegis of his Department; if he has discussed these increases with the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform and Digitalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63377/25]
Is mian liom ceist a chur ar an Aire Stáit mar gheall ar na salaries that have recently been announced for a number of incoming CEOs. Those salaries concern commercial State bodies under the aegis of the Minister of State’s Department. Has he discussed these increases with the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services Reform and Digitalisation?
My Department has 19 agencies in total, 12 commercial and seven non-commercial, which have either a CEO or commissioner running the organisation. All CEO and commissioner contracts under the aegis of my Department have terms and conditions based on sanction received from the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. All CEO salaries and benefits are published in the company’s annual report and financial statements, in keeping with the business and financial reporting requirements of the 2016 code of practice for the governance of State bodies.
In 2024, the senior post remuneration committee carried out a review of the remuneration arrangements for CEOs of commercial State bodies. This was the first such review since 2011. It was necessary to align CEO salaries with the market and to deal with recruitment and retention issues in commercial State bodies. The results of that review were published in March of this year. Following that review, the committee designated salary bands with defined salary parameters for each commercial agency. Requests received by the Department within those parameters are considered and approved by the Minister and then require sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. No salary increases for a CEO under the aegis of my Department are approved without the prior sanction of the Minister for public expenditure.
Since the publication of the review and associated salary bands, two of the 12 commercial agencies under my Department have been awarded salary increases. Both of these agencies, Iarnród Éireann and Bus Éireann, were undergoing recruitment campaigns for new CEOs. Any increase in salaries that has been sanctioned following this process is in keeping with the salary band provided for these posts by the senior post remuneration committee review.
Of course we need to ensure that we have the best people for the job but it is not all about top dogs and the CEO. In a cost-of-living crisis, will the Minister of State outline the reasoning behind these salary bumps, some of which are over 33%? This morning, I listened to representatives from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Ireland on the radio outlining that more and more families, particularly middle-income families, are seeking its help because of the massive increases in the cost of living in respect of electricity, heating and grocery bills. In Kerry alone, over 20,500 dinners were provided to families across the county this year. That is in stark contrast to salary increases of over 33%. Does the Minister of State have any thoughts in that regard?
First, the salary increases are in line with the aegis of the Department of public expenditure and reform and the guidelines set out by it. It is important to say that salaries of CEOs are in line with the responsibilities they take on. They vary from agency to agency, depending on the responsibility they have, the number of people working in the organisation and all that goes with that. With State and semi-State agencies, it is important that we have people in control who are able to progress Government policy, expenditure and infrastructure changes, especially in the area of transport where at all times we are trying to improve our roads, rail and all of our transport infrastructure. It is important that we attract the best people to these jobs. It is a fine balance. I hear what the Deputy is saying but it is a fine balance between having these State agencies operating in an effective manner and carrying out their jobs properly while also working within the bands set out by the Department of public expenditure and reform.
That would be fine if there were also fair play for workers and families, many of whom are also working in essential services. We need fair pay for them. The decision to abolish the pay cap is going to increase wage inequality. There will be a much bigger gap between the CEOs and the people who are doing the work on the ground. In the recent budget, supports to help people with the cost-of-living crisis were ripped away.
Last year, the CSO identified that in-work poverty stands at 5.9%, meaning approximately 145,000 people in employment are living below the poverty line. Earlier this year, research from the ESRI showed that when housing costs are taken into account, the figure is even higher. In a society of nearly full employment, nearly 15% of the State’s population is living in poverty, including one in five children. They are the workers who need a pay rise. The Government must step up and introduce a living wage for all workers, rather than just bumping up the salaries of the people at the top.
The Deputy talked about the minimum wage but the minimum wage was increased in the budget. It is important to keep a balance on the discussion. When it comes to people at senior management level, you are trying to make sure that we get the best value for money. In the context of the Department of Transport, as billions of euro are being invested in transport, that is important. Every chief executive who is working within transport and is responsible for the running of these organisations has a lot of people and responsibility. It is important to say that we have the right people in those positions. I do not disagree that there are people who need more pay but it is not related. The performance has been tested and there is a demand for people who can run the agencies to get the best out of them. It is about getting the best value for money in order that money is not wasted and we have money to pay for other services. That is important. The balance has to be kept in that regard.
82. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has examined international best practice in public transport app design; if lessons from other jurisdictions are being considered in the digital strategy for TFI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63379/25]
Has the Department examined international best practice in public transport app design? Are lessons from other jurisdictions are being considered in the digital strategy for TFI?
I thank Deputy O'Connell for taking this question. I thank her for the question. Like her, I am eager to see best practice being implemented across our public transport sector, including passenger technology. As we heard from Deputy O’Connell and from Deputy Currie earlier, it is a very important matter. Public transport apps are not simply about having a technological solution for the sake of it. Rather, they are about having information available to people so that they can make the best use of our public transport system, especially those who may be new to it or have difficulty finding the best way of making their journey. It is also about having the confidence and that piece around reliability.
The NTA is responsible for several mobile applications, including the TFI Leap Top-Up; the TFI Go mobile ticketing app; TFI Anseo demand-responsive application; and the TFI Live mobile application, which are used for journey planning and for the provision of real-time information to customers.
In all cases, the NTA works extensively with the supplier to deliver the best possible result.
The NTA has collaborated with other public transport authorities on an app design. As an example, the NTA has worked closely with Transport for Scotland on a redesign of TFI Live. Unfortunately, progress has been slower than anticipated because of a lack of mobile application development capacity with the source supplier. While the TFI Live application does function and does present journey planning and real-time data to customers, the NTA is currently investigating options to expedite improvements to the application to improve the customer experience.
One project that will produce improved quality journey data to the TFI Live app is next generation automatic vehicle location, AVL, which replaces five old automatic vehicle location systems with a new centralised solution, to provide higher quality and consistent data outputs to the TFI Live mobile app. This project is going to pilot in March 2026, with the full roll-out taking approximately 12-18 months, which I look forward to seeing happening. I will conclude by saying that people often express their frustration to me about the performance of the app. It is something we need to improve on and work with Members of the House to see this delivered.
The Minister of State highlighted some of the issues. Deputy Currie also highlighted the issue of ghost buses and the unreliability of the app. Deputy Timmins also highlighted this issue as well. It is also very frustrating that there is not one single accessible platform. There are effectively five different apps that people might find themselves having to interact with to plan their journey. There is the journey planner, a taxi driver database and the Leap top-up. It is really extraordinarily complicated, particularly for someone who is new to it or not digitally savvy, for whatever reason. Addressing this type of issue really needs to be important if we are going to encourage people to rely on public transport and give up their car and move to public transport. Even if it is only part of their journey and they do use other forms of transportation, if that part of the journey becomes unreliable, and people cannot rely on or navigate the apps, all of these things will be barriers to trying to get these transformations and modal shifts.
The Deputy makes a very good point in the context of that one platform. The NTA has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the development of the related technological systems. As I said earlier, the NTA has awarded a contract to implement and support a national automatic vehicle location system for all public service obligation buses to Trapeze, which is a specialist transport systems company. It is envisaged the work being done will enable the NTA to consolidate several existing and disparate bus AVL systems into one central system to be used by all PSO bus operators in Ireland. It has expansion capacity to meet the growing demand for public transport in Ireland. The point being made is that we all need to live up to the ambition to make it easier for people to use the app and mobile applications. The Deputy is right. It would be great if we had one platform. The point I need to work more on with the Department is in the context of whether this can be done and, if so, when we can do it. I will take the Deputy's points back and I thank her for raising the matter.
I am delighted to hear the comments are being taken on board. At the moment, we expect we might have to hop off a bus and onto a Luas or a DART, but we have to hop between applications as well to do it. This is not something that makes it easy for people to use our public transportation network. I appreciate the Minister of State's comments about the regional providers as well and that he is looking to include them more in terms of an overall bus network so we are not hopping between different apps. From the users' perspective, they believe there should all be one seamless process and they should not have to try to figure out who is providing which service to know how to access it. I welcome the Minister of State's comments and look forward to developments on this matter.
The point that Deputy O'Connell has made in terms of the users' perspective is one we must listen to and recognise. The Members tonight have expressed frustration in terms of ghost buses, lack of real-time information, no buses turning up at all and being late or leaving early. It is an issue we need to have further engagement on by the NTA, with Trapeze and the Department, in the context of how we can make it easy for the travelling public to have an application that functions and that enhances rather than acting as a barrier to their journey planning and usage in respect of the provision of real-time information to the customer. It is the customers who are important, and I thank Deputy O'Connell for representing them tonight. The NTA is currently investigating options to expedite improvements to the application to improve the customer experience. I will bring the comments from Deputy O'Connell and other Members of the House back, and, hopefully, we will see improved quality for the travelling public as a consequence of tonight's questions.
83. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport his views on the condition of DART and train stations across Dublin Bay North (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63444/25]
I rise to speak about transport across my constituency, especially regarding the DART and to see overall investment in the DART train stations in Clontarf, Killester, Harmonstown and Raheny and up to Clongriffin and out to Howth. There is a huge need for investment. I understand there is going to be a large investment going in. My issue is that I was at multiple meetings of residents and they had not been consulted on the current changes to the platforms. This is the matter I would like to raise.
I thank the Deputy very much for raising the question. I assure him my Department and the agencies that work under it are all fully aware of the need to ensure we have a transport system designed for all users and accessible to everyone. We have made progress in this regard in recent years, but still there is a lot to be done. We are committed to that work in the years ahead to deliver on the ambition of pillar 5 of the new national human rights strategy for disabled people.
Turning specifically to rail, Iarnród Éireann continuously works to enhance accessibility upgrades to all stations and services, and the investment programmes, to ensure that accessibility is integrated from design stage to fruition. This includes engagement with the Irish Rail disability users group and other disability representative bodies throughout the course of design. Focusing on the specifics of the Deputy's question regarding DART stations in north Dublin, these stations are inspected and maintained on a continuous basis to ensure Iarnród Éireann meets the required standards in terms of accessibility and customer experience. All DART stations in north Dublin are accessible by means of a lift, platform or ramp. The big lift programme saw investment in existing lifts at 52 stations across the network between 2020 and 2024, significantly improving lift reliability. The liftcall system is also in place at most station lifts, ensuring live monitored access and preventing vandalism and anti-social behaviour.
All stations undergo cyclical work and general maintenance, with minor station improvements as required. For example, Iarnród Éireann is currently replacing stairwells at the Clontarf Road station that were due for renewal. Iarnród Éireann is satisfied at this time that no station is in current disrepair. However, if there is a specific issue at a particular station that the Deputy wants to raise, I would be happy to go back to Irish Rail-Iarnród Éireann on his behalf.
I thank the Minister of State very much for that reply. A lot of the DART stations on the northside are currently not updating their social media quickly when lifts are unavailable to let people with accessibility issues know this is the case. They then get off at the station, and have to go through the process of getting to another station. In relation to what I said about the Donaghmede estate residents, we have changes going on in the Donaghmede-Howth Junction station. Iarnród Éireann has insisted it did a leaflet drop in the area to consult the residents, but I was at a meeting of more than 150 residents and they had not received a single leaflet. I have emailed Iarnród Éireann through our Oireachtas email query facility. I would like it to be clarified by Iarnród Éireann when the leaflet drops happened and the information notices were displayed in the Donaghmede area, what streets and estates were included in these drops and the corresponding dates on which this occurred. I ask this because the company is not answering my queries, so I hope it might answer the Minister of State.
I am just looking here at information for the Howth station. Some general maintenance and cyclical work are being carried out, including line marking and nosing on stairwells. An anti-slip surface will be placed on all stairwells. Access to all platforms via lifts or stairs is the accessibility element. On the Deputy's specific question of what Iarnród Éireann did before it carried out works and the notification thereof, I will go back to the company and try to find out what it did and get the answers for him. If he wants to give me the specific questions, I will go back to Iarnród Éireann on them.
Of all the stations, many are mentioned in the reply.
There are ten or 12 stations and work is being carried out on them all to keep them all right with accessibility on every one of them: ramps to platforms, ramps and lift to platform 1 and a ramp to platform 2 and platforms via accessible ramps. The accessibility standards have been set out for each one of them. The one in Clongriffin underwent significant improvement works and the tender has gone out for the replacement of the stairwells there. On that lift and stairs, Iarnród Éireann does not own the stairs and lifts that lead to the coast development and has not at any time been responsible for their maintenance. Maybe my things are getting confused as well.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit and I appreciate that he will address that. It is ridiculous that when it comes to the next election, it is politicians who will be taking the brunt on public transport, as the Minister of State knows himself. When I send an email, from the office of a Deputy, I do not get a response from Iarnród Éireann asking for a clear date and time of when a drop happened. The northside has been neglected for far too long. I do not know if it was previous TDs on the northside who went fighting for them or what was happening. There are some stations that only have shelters for the southside users. This is something I am trying to fight for, but if you look at this, people in Donaghmede and Kilbarrack did not receive a leaflet drop. Their station is going to be changed. The people who use that station to commute to work every day would definitely have a better say than some engineer who is going to be plopped onto that project and will not have a clue about where there needs to be a ramp for a buggy or for someone who has accessibility needs. That is why I would like if the Minister of State would, and I appreciate that his office will, look in on behalf of these residents to see why they were not consulted because they have a right to be.
I accept what Deputy Heneghan is saying in that we have to have public engagement when we are carrying out works so people know what is going on. The Deputy might send to my office what the issues and problems are and what the stations are. He mentioned Kilbarrack there. It says here line-marking and nosing of stairwell and it talks about surface repairs but, if the Deputy sends me the list and the time the works were carried out, I will get an answer for him.
It is an important thread that is coming through all night in the questions. Where you have customer dissatisfaction, the important thing is that if we hear about it and we try to get corrective action. At the end of the day, my philosophy and that of the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is that if somebody is using public transport, we need to give them a response and an experience such that they will continue to use public transport and be able to rely on it. That is important, especially for people with disabilities. I know Deputy Heneghan is very passionate about that.
84. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the action his Department is taking to progress the Mallow relief road project; the current status of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63270/25]
I thank Deputy Burke for his question and his ongoing advocacy on behalf of the people of Mallow. He has been very proactive on the matter.
As the Deputy will know, approximately €502 million of Exchequer capital funds has been provided for national roads through TII to local authorities this year. Included in this is an allocation of €700,000 for the Mallow relief road, which is progressing towards the completion of a preliminary business case and planning application. This scheme consists of a northern bypass of Mallow, with the objective of removing traffic travelling between Killarney and Mitchelstown or Fermoy from the town centre.
This scheme is a priority for me and for the Minister, Deputy O'Brien and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, because as the Deputy knows, through his ongoing engagement and that of Councillor Liam Madden working with him, there is a real need for this road to be prioritised and developed. This will provide increased scope for development and public realm improvements in Mallow town centre, greatly improving the benefits for residents. The people of Mallow will also benefit from reduced congestion and improved air quality. Reduced congestion in the town centre will encourage walking and cycling and improve safety. The project will also act as an enabler for compact growth in the centre of Mallow, which is a national strategic outcome.
The project is currently in the design and environmental evaluation phase, which follows the conclusion of the route selection process. As part of this phase, there was a minor change of route at the western end of the scheme due to an interface with a Gas Networks Ireland transmission main and to reduce the level of impact caused by the earthworks. Cork County Council aims to complete a preliminary business case for the project by the end of this year. Subject to a satisfactory review by TII of the preliminary business case, it is expected that an application for planning permission for this project will be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála in the second quarter of 2026. I look forward to working with Deputy Burke to ensure the project progresses and reaches a satisfactory conclusion.
I thank the Minister of State. As he knows, Mallow is quite close to Cork city. There is a huge volume of traffic now passing through Mallow because it is coming from either the Killarney side, the Fermoy-Mitchelstown side or the Limerick side. It is all coming into Mallow town. We need to prioritise this project because it is really having an adverse effect on the town as regards the volume of traffic.
On the bypass road, I understand there was an issue in relation to the Gas Networks Ireland line, but surely national authorities should know where major strategic lines are? We know where overhead cables are. How did a delay like this occur? I am concerned that we will have further delays unless we make sure we have all the t's crossed and i's dotted when we are submitting for planning. I am anxious that we would submit for planning at the earliest possible time so we can progress this project.
I share Deputy Burke's view that we expedite this as fast as we can. He is right; it is an important infrastructure piece. I have not got the answer regarding the Gas Networks Ireland interface. I will certainly ask the NTA to communicate with the Deputy because he is right. The relief road project will provide an enormous benefit to the town of Mallow. The Deputy has, with Councillor Liam Madden, been very strong in his advocacy. Businesses in the area have been equally as vociferous in pressing for the bypass to be built as quickly as possible. I am, with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and the Department, committed to ensuring for the people of Mallow that the Mallow relief road is built as quickly possible. The Deputy rightly highlighted the gridlock in the area. I was there recently. I had to drive from Fermoy to Knocknagree. I went through Mallow and it is a bottleneck. This road will bring huge economic improvement, not just to Mallow and its people but to the wider region. I look forward to working to ensure we expedite the project.
It also ties in with the Cork-Limerick road and the importance of that development. We are 20 years on and we need to make sure that project moves on in the same way as this bypass road for Mallow. With regard to the volume of traffic travelling on that road, some mornings at 5.30, as I am driving to the station to take the train from Mallow to Dublin, there is a volume of traffic coming against me, even at 5.30 in the morning. It is extremely important that two major centres of population, Limerick and Cork, do not have serious road infrastructure in place. We need to make sure that grows, that this plan is also put in place and that a planning application goes in for that as well as the relief road in 2026.
The Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, like Deputy Burke and I, will be familiar with and recognise the importance of the N20 project. It is critical and it is lacking. It is the deficit in the infrastructure connecting the western corridor. People rightly complain from many perspectives but, from an economic perspective, it is absolutely imperative that we advance the motorway and that Cork-Limerick road.
Equally, I concur with the Deputy in the context of the importance of infrastructure being improved in the Mallow area. I suppose it is the gateway to many areas in the Munster region. Given its location, as the Deputy rightly said, Mallow has substantial volumes of north, south, east and west traffic. It is important that we alleviate the traffic congestion and allow for that flow and enhanced connectivity between Cork, Limerick and Galway. We have seen the benefit of it in terms of Galway to Limerick and I will certainly be pushing the officials in the NTA and the Department with regard to the issues we have raised here tonight. I thank Deputy Burke for his work and his advocacy in working with Councillor Liam Madden on this particular project. This is a critical piece, dovetailing with the Cork-Limerick motorway.
85. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Transport if analysis has been completed to study the way in which or if the completion of active travel projects have had a material effect on the carbon emissions of commuters in County Dublin, or across the country. [63312/25]
I thank the Deputy for asking this very important question. Based on large-scale surveys and analysis from the NTA's Walking and Cycling Index 2023 for Ireland’s five metropolitan areas - Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick-Shannon, and Waterford - active travel is delivering significant environmental benefits nationally.
Walking, wheeling and cycling in these metropolitan areas remove approximately 680,000 car trips every day, reducing congestion and meaningfully cutting emissions. In 2023 alone, active travel saved an estimated 160,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to 2.2 million passenger trips from Dublin to London Heathrow. In addition to environmental benefits, the economic impact of active travel across the five metropolitan areas is estimated at over €3 billion annually, alongside major and important improvements in public health and air quality.
The Deputy refers specifically to commuters in County Dublin and I am delighted to say that every day those commuters who walk, wheel or cycle are taking nearly 530,000 cars off the road in the Dublin metropolitan area. These practices are saving approximately 120,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. I have more figures here for the Deputy.
To ensure we are moving in the right direction, the NTA, in conjunction with the relevant local authorities, has produced a transport strategy for the greater Dublin area, as well as metropolitan area transport strategies for the cities of Cork, Limerick and Waterford, with one under way for Galway. These strategies set out the measures that will help us achieve a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030 and set us on a path towards zero net emissions by 2050.
To verify that the measures in the strategies are being implemented in a co-ordinated, effective and timely manner, the NTA will undertake a monitoring programme and will produce a report which will be finalised for the greater Dublin area in advance of the review of the strategy for the greater Dublin area, which is due to commence in 2026.
My constituency of Dublin-Rathdown has seen significant change during the past five years through the development of active travel greenways and other similar schemes. Over €80 million has been spent, with €29 million allocated in 2025 alone, to support the various commitments in the national sustainable mobility policy to get people out of cars to walk and cycle instead, as well as the climate action plan which aims to reduce transport emissions overall. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, of which I was a member, led the way on these schemes. Kilometres of lanes have been built, concrete and plastic dividers have been installed, junctions have been narrowed, filter lanes have been removed, roads have been closed and new traffic lights and traffic sequences have been installed. After five years of investment, and counting, we still do not really have any clarity as to whether this investment is actually delivering because we do not really know whether our emissions have been reduced. We have estimates and surveys but have we actually done the assessment before all of these things were implemented, and afterwards, to see whether the emissions were actually reduced?
As I said, large-scale surveys were carried out in 2023. That is what we have at this stage. When we are investing money in active travel we want to make sure before we start that it will actually deliver what it says on the tin and we want to see afterwards if we got the necessary outputs. That is the same for every infrastructure project we carry out. There is an assessment carried out before projects are started to see what benefits they will bring. I will go back to the Department to see what other data we have or hope to get because, from my own background, I understand that if we are spending money on something, we have to find out if it is value for money, and not just in an intangible way. We have to see the facts and figures. It is important we see the outcomes that are delivered from the investment of taxpayers' money in these projects. I welcome the Deputy's question on this matter.
I appreciate that the Minister of State and I seem to be singing off the same hymn sheet. I attended one of the original proposal meetings on what are now called "active travel schemes" back in 2020. The overseeing consultants assured us then that traffic would just disappear if we implemented these schemes. The only real, empirical report I am aware of is on Kilmacud after new cycle lanes, road closures and various other infrastructure were implemented. It showed traffic did not disappear but was just displaced, with increased rat-running car speeds. After that particular scheme, there was actually less walking and cycling in the area. Anecdotally, my constituents in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown report that they are making longer journeys than they did five years ago. For example, a constituent recently highlighted to me that when doing the big family shop, her 3 km car journey from Dunnes Stores in Cornelscourt took her 45 minutes.
One possible consequence of a lot of these investments has been increased motor vehicle congestion. I accept some people are definitely walking and cycling more. I know that from anecdotal evidence from constituents as well. However, others are driving more and taking longer journeys. My question, therefore, is whether overall emissions are up or down.
Thank you, Deputy.
If we cannot say, do not know or do not know yet, then do we know if we are pouring good money after bad?
From the surveys and data I have given the Deputy, I am convinced we are reducing CO2 emissions. In my own opinion, having been talking about this issue for the past hour and a half, when we put in active travel measures we need to talk about having effective public transport. We have an integrated transport travel system that will give an experience to pedestrians, cyclists and people using public transport so they will continue to use that. As regards some of the improvements we have to make, in order to get more cars off the road we have to be able to say to people that they will be able to get to places on time, will be able to go shopping and get a bus back, will be able to get to work because a service will be there for them, and that they will have a bit of comfort in whatever mode of transport they use. That is the challenge and with the demands we have, it is important we continue to challenge ourselves to make sure we are delivering value for money and getting the results we want.
We will take Deputy Bennett's question and a brief response.
86. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Transport the projects identified in the strategic rail review with regard to Monaghan that he intends to progress; and the status of same. [63068/25]
My question relates to the timeline in the strategic rail review for the return of rail transport to County Monaghan. The Minister of State may or may not know that in counties Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal we have no railway network at all. The strategic rail review provides for this and I ask the Minister of State to consider it.
I thank the Deputy for the question. It is important we discuss the all-island rail review, for which I have overall responsibility. I have a passion for rail and think it is important we restore as many of the lines as possible and do as many of the connections we can, especially in the west and north west where rail is lacking, and in the Deputy's constituency.
I met some people in Ulster in relation to the connection between Derry and Letterkenny and the line from Portadown through Down. We have the basis for this, namely, the all-island rail strategy. We have identified projects that can be done quickly and that we can get ready for implementation. When we launch our sectoral plan that will show exactly what we are doing. I am delighted the Deputy raised this specific area because sometimes we look at Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway but we need to make sure the west, north west and all around are connected by rail, as they should be, and right up into Northern Ireland, as we are doing on the Dublin to Belfast line. It is important we keep that momentum going and I look forward to working with the Deputy on that over the next four years.
Unfortunately, that concludes oral questions.
I thank the Minister of State.
Very briefly.
It would be very helpful if the Minister of State could do that. I suggest he use the shared island fund as it takes in the North and South. There is a big pot of money there that he could tap into. We in Monaghan and Cavan would like to have a rail network running through Portadown and right up to Donegal. It would be very much appreciated.
That concludes oral questions.
I think I was meant to have the next question. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to write to me via email with a response as to whether there is a review into concerns about whether Uber coming into the taxi market complies with the Taxi Regulation Act.
I will certainly do that.
