Roderic O'Gorman
Question:102. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the roll-out of the planned inner orbital O route as part of the BusConnects project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31313/26]
Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions
Bus Services
Kilkenny is well represented in the Chair this morning. I wish to ask the Minister for Transport for an update on the roll-out of the planned O route, which is the inner orbital route, as part of the BusConnects project in Dublin.
I join with the Leas-Cheann Comhairle in welcoming the students from Edmund Rice College, Carrigaline, who are here today as well. I wish them a very pleasant visit to Leinster House.
I thank Deputy O'Gorman for the question. BusConnects Dublin is a transformative programme of investment to provide better bus services to more people across the capital. The Department of Transport is providing significant funding to support the roll-out of new bus infrastructure, fleet and services. We have already rolled out the first seven phases of the BusConnects Dublin network redesign so far, with the most recent one being the F spine serving Finglas to Tallaght in October 2025.
The National Transport Authority is progressing all necessary works required to facilitate the introduction of the O route, which will provide an inner orbital operating on the North Circular Road and South Circular Road. The €940 million in public service obligation funding provided in budget 2026 allows the NTA to operate the bus network on a sustainable basis and to prioritise changes in line with operational capacity and passenger needs. The focus this year is on consolidating and strengthening the current network, while progressing improvements already under way. Unfortunately, it is not possible this morning to confirm an exact date for implementation of the O route. I am assured, however, that the S2 route from Heuston Station to Irishtown, which entered service in 2023, serves a part of the O route currently.
The Department is also providing funding to advance the core bus corridors elements of the BusConnects programme.
Contracts have now been awarded for both the Liffey Valley to city centre and the Ballymun-Finglas to city centre schemes, with a view to both entering heavy construction this year. I look forward to working with the NTA and our Department to continue the roll-out of BusConnects in Dublin in the years ahead.
One of the most difficult things to do in public transport in Dublin is get across the city rather than in and out of it. That is why those orbital routes are so important. The BusConnects O route will connect communities across Dublin city centre, from Infirmary Road in the west and North Strand in East Wall to across the Liffey and around the South Circular Road back to Heuston Station. Running in both directions, it will be the first true orbital route. It is the circuit that will link all the different spines of BusConnects together.
When I asked the Minister and the NTA last February when it will roll out, I was told it would be in quarter 3 of 2025. There was no sign of it in quarter 3 of 2025. When I asked the Minister and the NTA about it in February 2025, they could not even give me a roll-out date. The reply stated that," Commencement of the new O-Route is subject to confirmation of sufficient PSO funding to support its operation, and hence a precise commencement date cannot be provided at this time." When will the O route be rolled out? Will the Minister of State work to speed it up?
The Deputy is correct; it is difficult to get across the city. The orbital routes are important. In fairness, the Deputy’s former colleague and former Minister, Eamon Ryan, introduced them. We have seen some being rolled out and we are doing more in that regard. The Department of Transport and I will engage with the NTA to ensure we get a date. There is ongoing engagement around the planning of all necessary works for the route about which the Deputy spoke. I will bring his feedback back to the officials.
While I cannot provide a date this morning, I can say that the sectoral plan of the national development plan has allocated significant funding to the NTA to progress BusConnects routes in Dublin, Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford. The Minister, Deputy O’Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, the Department and I share the Deputy’s commitment in this regard. I take the Deputy’s points on board. I do not have an exact date but I will bring his remarks back and engage with the officials in the Department.
We are missing an opportunity if we do not speed up the introduction of this O route. Running buses in both directions in a circuit around Dublin city centre will change the way people get around the city.
There is one point about which I am concerned. My understanding, from comments an NTA official made to me, is that the roll-out of the O route might be split into two semi-circles, with only the southern portion being introduced first. That absolutely misses the point of an orbital route. It would also be unfair on communities in Dublin’s north-inner city that would benefit from a high-frequency service running in both directions along the North Circular Road. As with so many other public transport projects, it is clear that a lack of funding is causing the delay. The Minister needs to back this project and ensure the O route is rolled out soon on both sides - north and south - from the outset.
We all share the commitment to enhance the public transport offering. It is not correct to say there is a lack of funding. In the budget, the Minister received an increase of 46% in the PSO allocation. What we are doing - I think the Deputy will support us in this, being a former Minister - is building resilience and sustainability in the transport system and network for the future. We are planning new routes in a way that is sustainable for the future and will avoid the need to have to go through supplementary measures every budget and cycle. As the Deputy knows, people want certainty, reliable information and on-time buses. We will engage further with the NTA to ensure that process of planning is in place so that we can deliver.
The Deputy is right that this is transformative. I assure the Deputy that all of us in the Department of Transport are committed to this. We want to see it happen. As I said, we have increased the PSO offering. It is now about making sure we continue to roll out BusConnects routes not just in Dublin but in the city of Cork as well. I hear the Deputy’s views.
Air Services
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Question:103. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the timeline for the long-awaited restoration of the Derry to Dublin airlink. [29785/26]
We have been without this crucial Derry-Dublin airlink for 16 years. It was removed by the Government at the time. If we look at the map of Ireland, we see there is no motorway or train link directly to Derry, Donegal and the north west. The restoration of this airlink is key. I welcome that it has been agreed to by the Government but we need clear timelines.
I agree with the Deputy that this is a critical route. I am happy to provide him with an update. It was a programme for Government commitment, as the Deputy knows, to re-establish the route. I thank the Deputy for his continued interest in this matter. We are committed to supporting vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland where people can live, work and connect. The Deputy has made that point validly with regard to the north west. Many stakeholders have recognised that the north west is an area that is relatively under-served by transport connectivity. We are improving that but it needs to be improved further.
Government-funded PSO air services previously operated on this route for a ten-year period up until 2011. In this context, and in line with our objectives on building a shared island, the Government committed to engage with all relevant stakeholders to establish air connectivity between Dublin and Derry city airports. I met with officials in the City of Derry Airport and Derry Chamber as well as with the Deputy’s colleagues in Donegal County Council.
Last year, we decided that, pending progress on the A5 motorway upgrade, preparatory work to reintroduce the PSO air service to establish air connectivity between Dublin and Derry airports in 2026 would be progressed. We are fully committed to the reintroduction of a PSO service on this route, which will be funded through the shared island fund. As announced in budget 2026, the Government has doubled the resources available under this fund out to 2035.
My officials are progressing the preparatory work necessary to establish this service. That work is now well advanced. On 22 December 2025, we published a market-sounding survey. Views of stakeholders, including those who might avail of the service, were sought on the service. It is important we do that. This survey includes the specifications that would potentially best meet the requirements of the PSO air service, such as aircraft type, capacity and frequency of services. Engagement on this survey was positive. Over 700 responses were received, confirming the interest and recognised benefits of the PSO air service for stakeholders in Derry and the wider north-west region.
All things being equal, it is expected that following a two-month tender procedure, a contract will be awarded for the commencement of services this October. This will align with the winter 2026 airline scheduling season. We are looking forward to it. It is on track.
I thank the Minister for his response. Obviously, I will have many back-and-forth battles with the Government but this is welcome news for the north west. It is a tribute to both Letterkenny Chamber and Derry Chamber. They work together for the region. A total of 40% of the passengers who use the City of Derry Airport come from Donegal. For people elsewhere in Ireland, sometimes that geography can be lost. Essentially, Derry serves the entire region, including north Donegal. It is a crucial link. We have been devastated with the delays and legal challenges to the A5, so this is one project that gives people hope. I ask the Minister to ensure the October timeline does not slip. I am advised it is critical for the overall package of the airport. As the Minister knows, it connects into Heathrow Airport and various airports in England, Scotland and other countries. This is part of this package to continue to build confidence in the north west and show that we are rebalancing with the rest of island.
I, too, share the Deputy’s disappointment with regard to the A5. We are still committed to delivering it whenever legal challenges and planning issues are dispensed with. In the meantime, this is critical. This route is viable and needed. We will support it with a public service obligation. The timelines I have provided are robust. I very much expect this service to be up and running in October. Both the awarding of the contract and a commencement of the service will happen in October, aligning with that winter 2026 schedule. Not only will this service provide connectivity between Dublin and Derry but it will provide onwards connectivity as well.
Certainly, from a geographical perspective, it is critical for the north west. It will drive investment. I met with the chambers of commerce on both sides of the Border, as well as with Derry City and Strabane District Council. On the Letterkenny side, there are substantial land banks for further investment and employment growth. There would also be a good tourism offering for people there. I am looking forward to it. We are watching it. I am confident in the timelines I have provided. I thank the Deputy for his support for this project.
I welcome the Minister’s firm commitment today. It is good news for the City of Derry Airport. I also commend Derry City and Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council. They created the vision of the north-west city region. They speak with one voice. This is good news for Donegal, Derry, Tyrone and the wider north-west region. I will leave it at that. I appreciate the firm commitment.
This is another project that shows the benefits of the shared island initiative.
It is bringing people on the island of Ireland together and normalising future relations. It is a fantastic example of how local authorities and chambers of commerce work together. The Border does not exist, and that is critical. People are working together and bringing in investment. People work on both sides of the Border.
The shared island fund is an important enabler. The Taoiseach is incredibly supportive of the project. We are happy to work with it. The fund has been a constructive partner, as have Donegal County Council, Derry and Strabane and the chambers of commerce. To be fair, politicians across the House, including Deputy Mac Lochlainn, have been very supportive of this. I look forward to it opening. Maybe we will take a flight up there together.
Sounds good.
Public Transport
Mark Ward
Question:104. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Transport the public transport options to Dubin Airport for the people of Dublin Mid-West; if additional routes are being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31351/26]
It is an ordeal to get from Dublin Mid-West to the airport. What public transport options are available to Dublin Airport from Dublin Mid-West for the residents of Clondalkin, Lucan, Palmerstown, Citywest, Newcastle, Saggart, Brittas, Fettercairn and Rathcoole? Are additional routes being considered?
The NTA is critical in the context of the planning and provision of services and continues to keep public transport connectivity, including access to Dublin Airport, under ongoing and active review. As the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, mentioned in a previous response, there was a substantial increase, about 46%, in the public service obligation in the budget to enhance and improve our services. While there is no direct public transport from Dublin Mid-West to the airport, a range of convenient and flexible travel options are available. Many travel by rail into the city centre and out from there.
Looking ahead, the NTA is continuing to invest in additional orbital bus services which will provide more options to reach Dublin Airport by public transport. For example, route W4 which currently operates between Tallaght and Blanchardstown will connect with the planned new route N8 at Blanchardstown which will serve Dublin Airport via the M50. A further welcome development is included in the Dublin Airport Authority's planning application currently under consideration to increase passenger numbers to 40 million per annum. As part of this proposal, the DAA has sought approval for a new ground transportation centre which will consolidate airport bus services in a single location and, where possible, segregate general but traffic from pedestrian movements. This would provide priority access to bus stop facilities and increase bus bay capacities, supporting the continued growth of public transport use to make journeys to the airport.
In addition there is MetroLink, which will start construction by the end of next year. It is fully funded under the national development plan and will integrate directly with Iarnród Éireann services at Glasnevin, thereby significantly improving public transport access to Dublin Airport.
Deputy Moynihan asked for an update on DART+ South West. We are committed to that and are doing it as a Government. It will be a critical enabler of improving public transport services in what is a major growth area. There has been significant housing development in the area and new families moving in. We have to ensure that the public transport offering is commensurate with population growth.
There was a private operator, the Airport Hopper, in Dublin Mid-West until February 2025. It provided an economical route to Dublin Airport for residents of Tallaght, Lucan and Clondalkin. The operator closed because the service was not financially sustainable.
The Minister mentioned public service obligations. I understand when a privately run service stops, the State can take it over through the public service obligation. This essentially means that the route would remain in place, but would be operated publicly by the NTA. I received a response from the NTA that it is not considering a public service obligation. Instead, it will begin a new service between Blanchardstown and Clongriffin. I am delighted for my colleague Deputy Donnelly in Blanchardstown and Clongriffin, but that is no good for people in Clondalkin, Lucan and Tallaght. Can consideration be given to taking the Dublin Airport Hopper under the public service obligation in order that we can have at least one direct route to the airport?
I thank Deputy Ward for asking the question. As he knows, I asked a question about this matter a few weeks ago and have engaged directly with the Minister on it. The suggestion I put forward is that there be airport-bound routes going through Dublin Mid-West, like the Expressway service from the western part of the country. I have written to the NTA and hope to get the support of the Minister to allow pick-up and drop-off for residents in Lucan and Clondalkin on airport-bound routes outside of Dublin in the interim. I will work with the Minister and hope to secure a public service obligation for some sort of airport link. We can apply some interim solutions until then.
I welcome the support of the Minister in working with the NTA to mandate operators to provide additional pick-up and drop-off points. It is uneconomic to drive from Lucan, Clondalkin or Palmerstown as I have said on the floor of the House and with the Minister privately. I encourage him to support encouraging people to use public transport in as direct way as possible. I mean no disrespect to the response of the NTA, but it described a circuitous route to the airport when people need to get onto the M50. I would welcome interim solutions.
Deputy Moynihan asked a question about this on a previous occasion. The cessation of the Airport Hopper was a disappointment. It was a direct route for people. On foot of the questions asked a few weeks ago and Deputy Ward's question today, I will ask the NTA to move forward and see if something can be done within the public service obligation. There was a substantial increase in public service obligation funding. We have also seen a substantial increase in routes and additions to routes. Last year, 365 million public service obligation transport journeys took place across the network, a record number. Journeys are growing by about 6% or 7% per year. People respond when they have the choice and opportunity to use public transport. One can see from the questions Deputies Ward and Moynihan have asked that there is a gap regarding which needs to be filled in the interim. I am aware of the issue and will engage with the NTA to see whether we can bring forward the service and provide interim services solutions in advance of that. I will keep the Deputies informed.
I welcome the fact that the Minister is going to have a conversation with the NTA regarding the consideration of interim solutions. If I were to travel from Neillstown, where I am from, to the airport today by public transport, I would have to take three buses. If I travelled via Adamstown I would need to take a train and bus, that is, if I was lucky to be able to get on a train. DART+ South West was mentioned. That needs to be built as soon as possible.
Many people in my area, myself included, have no choice but to get taxis to the airport. I checked prices before coming into the House and discovered that the cost of getting to the airport from different parts of my constituency by taxi ranges from €50 to €90. It is often the case that the taxi fares people pay are more than what they pay for the flights they are taking out of the country. I urge the Minister to consider interim options. I take the point on the Citylink service from Galway to Dublin, which comes down the M4 and does not stop on the way. A stop would help some people along the way, especially in Lucan, Palmerstown and parts of Clondalkin.
That point has been well made by both Deputies. I will engage with the NTA and keep both Deputies fully informed. There could be an interim measure we can take. There is a longer term plan and continued investment in the public transport fleet, including DART+ South West, which everyone is supportive of and which we will bring forward. The Government has started work on that. I will keep Deputies Ward and Moynihan informed of progress.
Public Transport
Catherine Callaghan
Question:105. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide funding for increased car parking facilities in Carlow and Muine Bheag train stations in Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31281/26]
Is the Minister considering providing funding for increased car parking spaces in Carlow and Muine Bheag train stations in County Carlow, particularly in light of the ongoing fuel crisis in Ireland as a result of the war that shows no sign of abating, to try to give 7,000 commuters an alternative to taking their cars to work?
Students from Edmund Rice College Carrigaline are in the Gallery. I welcome them and wish them well. I hope they have a very good visit. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.
They are all welcome.
By allowing drivers and passengers to complete part of their journey by car and part by public transport, park-and-ride sites have an important role to play in generating a mode shift towards public transport, cutting emissions and reducing congestion in our urban centres. To support this work, Iarnród Éireann is currently updating its national carpark strategy report to establish the capacity requirements for car parking, bus connectivity and active travel at all 147 train stations across the rail network. It is anticipated that the strategy will be complete and an updated report issued to the NTA for review later this year.
The Department of Transport has allocated significant funding to advance public transport projects, including park-and-ride facilities, through the national development plan sectoral investment plan, which was published in November. The NTA is now progressing a more detailed implementation plan within this overarching Exchequer funding envelope. The implementation plan, which will be published in the coming months, will provide details of projects to be progressed within the funding available over the period 2026 to 2030. This implementation plan, together with the report being prepared by Iarnród Éireann, will inform which park-and-ride sites are advanced in the medium term.
I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of Muine Bheag. It is not her first time to do so. She has been very articulate about the need for both car parking spaces in Carlow and enhanced connectivity. Carlow is a growing town, as the Deputy said. There is expeditious growth east and west. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter and look forward to engaging with her further.
The Minister of State is correct. Carlow is a thriving university town. I have also been calling for increased train services from Carlow - actually from Waterford all the way through Kilkenny to Dublin and vice versa. We need to have a change of focus. I welcome the report that has been done by Iarnród Éireann and the desire to have park-and-ride facilities throughout the country. However, in the current geopolitical environment, the Government as a whole needs to have a greater sense of urgency. While I appreciate all the measures it has brought in so far, in Carlow and Kilkenny there are approximately 7,000 people who commute by car and whose journeys to work and back home last more than 60 minutes. What is happening is that commuters are arriving at Carlow train station with the desire to take the train and there are no car parking spaces available. In that light, this is an immediate and urgent call I am making.
I am fully aware of the situation in Carlow. I am very familiar with the town. When you come off the motorway from Dublin, you can see cars parked along the road as you go into Carlow in an area where there could be a need for a park-and-ride facility. The Department and I are very much committed to having an overall strategy. We are looking at a change in focus. That is why we have BusConnects, why we will have the light rail system for Cork, and why we have the strategy whereby a modal shift is being further assisted and supported by Irish Rail with the Department of Transport in the context of park-and-ride facilities. Stations are prioritised using a multi-criteria analysis that takes into account the capacity, current and projected demand, the number of potential spaces gained and lost and everything to do with planning and programme risk. From my own observations, Carlow would be well placed on the relevant list. I know the Leas-Chathaoirleach is also familiar with this matter. For the Department, this is about the modal shift, enhanced connectivity and getting people out of their cars onto public transport.
I really welcome that very positive response and the proactive and ambitious plans for the future for rail networks through Carlow and into Kilkenny. I attended a meeting in Mullinavat this week. This is kind of separate from my question, but while I have the opportunity, I will mention that there is an disused train station in Mullinavat. It would be very interesting to explore whether we could recreate a stop there to help alleviate the pressure that has been experienced due to the reduction in the service of Expressway route 4.
When we talk about car parking spaces in train stations, will the Department consider multi-storey car parking for train stations like the one in Carlow or in Bagenalstown that are short on space and that do not really have the capacity to expand into the surrounding area? There are a number of schools around Carlow train station. If that was possible, we might consider putting solar panels on our car parking spaces, as happens in many other European countries.
The Deputy makes an interesting point. On the other, broader point, digressing from her subject matter of the question, from a geopolitical point of view, we need to look differently at rail provision. She mentioned Mullinavat. I could throw in the Midleton to Youghal line in Cork as an example. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle could have a couple in Kilkenny as well. We have to look at the whole thing differently now given what is happening in the world around the uncertainty in the Middle East and then moving away from fossil fuel dependency. The Department and the Government are committed to progressing the modal shift from cars and to buses, to Bus Connects, to a national rail strategy around commuter rail and to the Luas and the metro in Dublin and Cork.
I will certainly bring the fundamental point the Deputy makes back to Iarnród Éireann and to the Department. She is right though; it is about looking at how we can create that sustainable piece. What we are trying to do is to build reliance into our rail services. Part of our discussion, not just now but in the future, is about the points the Deputy has made here this morning.
Electric Vehicles
Pa Daly
Question:106. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the findings of a research paper (details supplied); if he has engaged with the Minister for Climate; Energy and the Environment to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31152/26]
Is the Minister for Transport aware of the findings of a research paper from the school of physics in Trinity College Dublin entitled Why Rural Ireland holds the key to transport decarbonisation? Has he engaged with himself, as the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, on this matter?
I talk to myself every day. It is good having two Departments because you can ask permission from the other Minister. There are good synergies between both though, to be fair. It is a good question. As Minister for transport and for climate, energy and the environment, I am aware of the report in question. I thank Deputies Cronin and Daly for bringing it to my attention. I have also reached out to Professor Brian Caulfield to arrange a meeting to discuss his research. It is very timely. We are firmly committed to achieving a low-carbon economy by 2050. The transport sector will play a pivotal role in that. Fleet electrification is expected to continue to provide the greatest share of emissions abatement in the short to medium term for the transport sector. Rural motorists are often in an advantageous position to make the switch to an electric vehicle, due to the large number of dwellings in rural Ireland which are suitable for home EV charging. Home charging is the primary charging method that most Irish EV owners use as it is convenient and cheaper for the consumer, as well as assisting in the overall management of the grid.
According to data provided by TII and the charging point operators, over 3,200 publicly accessible charge points are now available nationwide. We are finalising a data strategy in line with the programme for Government commitment, which will enhance the Department’s ability to monitor infrastructure roll-out, capacity and usage, so we can more accurately assess that data with the ultimate objective of delivering on EU requirements. We are going very well on the EV roll-out, and we have seen a really substantial jump in quarter 1 of this year. We have close to 240,000 EVs now on our roads and we are seeing that increase. I want to be able to deploy more EVs and ensure that people, particularly in rural areas, are assessing them. The data we have from last year shows that there is a good regional split. The need to focus on this has been raised by many Deputies and, indeed, Sinn Féin's transport spokesperson, and we will. I intend to meet Professor Caulfield in the coming weeks to discuss his research.
That is great that the Minister has engaged with this and that he will be meeting Professor Caulfield because the need to decarbonise and move to green energy has never been clearly, especially with the illegal wars in Iran, Ukraine, Lebanon and everywhere. The Minister can tell Michéal Martin that we do know about it. People in rural communities depend on their cars and are feeling this the most. One obvious way to protect them from these price shocks is to make electrical vehicles more accessible. The paper to which I refer suggests that this is not really that straightforward. While the good news is that the uptake of EVs in rural areas has been good, many of the people who are reliant on them are charging them at home. This can cause huge spikes in demand that our grid simply cannot handle. Even if people do want to switch to EVs, the grid infrastructure is just not there and that leaves rural communities stuck for the foreseeable future. What has been done to make sure rural areas have the grid capacity that they need so we can get on with the decarbonisation?
That is a very good question. That is why PR6, the capital investment programme into our grid infrastructure between now and 2030 is so critically important. We will be investing up to €18.9 billion in our grid. It is needed to improve grid resilience, grid capacity and distribution. That will be about adding more renewables to our grid too and storage to be able to deal with curtailment issues too but capacity issues in certain parts of the grid. The capital scheme encompasses about 520 projects right the way across the country. This will give that improvement our grid needs to be able to expand further, allow more people, businesses and homes to access the grid, and to facilitate further EV charging. That work has commenced across those projects and it will be the most critical grid upgrade that has been done since electrification in this country.
Projects like the north-south interconnector are encompassing it. That is critically important for grid resilience across the island of Ireland.
I am grateful for that because this is critical. When Russia invaded Ukraine, it should have been a wake-up call for us. We should have accelerated investment in renewables and energy security straight away. We have to accept that geopolitical instability is going to be part of the world - certainly for the next few years - and plan for that. Short-term supports certainly are a help but they do not go far enough. This paper offers solutions. We need long-term solutions, such as investing in the grid, expanding renewable energy, and easing pressure on the system. I encourage the Minister to look at a moratorium on data centres. It comes up all the time at the climate committee that the grid has increased and the first come first served system just does not work in regard to data centre.
We do not know how long these conflicts are going to last. We do not know when the next crisis is going to come. We have to make sure that we are prepared. I ask the Minister after his engagement with the professor to write to the climate or transport committee. It would be appreciated.
That is a good idea. I am happy to do that. In relation to renewables and the acceleration of renewables, we need to continue to reduce our dependence on fossil and imported fossil. That is good for climate, our economy and people's pockets. The good news is that we have doubled our wind capacity in a ten-year period. We now have over 8 GW of renewable energy connected to our system. We have about 1.4 GW of solar on rooftops. Solar is growing at a significant rate. In March of this year, 50% of our electricity was generated by renewables. We need to accelerate that further. We are doing that. We are doing that through measures like the Planning and Development Act.
Earlier this week I visited Bord na Móna's Derrinlough wind farm, which is one of the largest wind farms in the country. Bord na Móna is generating over 1 GW of renewable energy. It was a fossil-based peat company that has transitioned fully to green energy. In its pipeline of development and planning, it has over 5 GW of further renewable sources. On the offshore renewables, we need to get them into construction this decade. Regarding the horizon, the outlook is positive. I agree with the Deputy that we need to accelerate it. I will write to the transport committee post my meeting with Professor Caulfield.
I appreciate that.
Public Transport
Paul Murphy
Question:107. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will seek substantial additional investment in public transport so that more services can be rapidly rolled out in response to the fuel crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31435/26]
In response to the fuel crisis, other countries are rolling out additional services. Some are making public transport free, which we have called for for a long time. The Government did not provide any funding for new services in this budget. Will it reverse that decision in light of the fuel crisis? Will it provide additional funding for new services to be rapidly rolled out to alleviate the fuel and cost-of-living crisis and to enable us to get off the reliance on fossil fuels as quickly as possible?
I thank the Deputy. As Minister for Transport, I fully recognise the pressure that people and businesses are under due to rising fuel costs. Public transport has a particularly important role to play at times like this by providing a more affordable and sustainable alternative for many people. We are seeing public transport usage increase year-on-year. Last year, we saw a record 365 million public transport journeys. In that context, I am keeping under close review how the public transport system is equipped to respond to current pressures. My Department and the NTA remain in close contact with operators to monitor demand and operational impacts as the situation evolves. At the same time, it is important that any such measures are carefully considered and aligned with available resources, so that they are effective, sustainable and can deliver real benefits.
The immediate priority has been to protect existing services and ensure continuity across the network within the resources allocated in the PSO programme. In the PSO, we secured an unprecedented allocation of €940 million. That was a 43% uplift on the previous budget. I want to get us to a sustainable footing in relation to the funding of public transport services. Where it previously had been, where additional routes were added and at the end of every year a supplementary budget was sought for transport, is not the way to plan things. It is not the way to plan things going forward.
To further support the sector, we approved a range of measures to mitigate rising fuel costs, including the transport sector through the road transport support scheme. That will support bus and coach operators providing TFI Local Link services and school transport. If we look at our charging structure in Ireland for public transport, it compares very favourably with our European counterparts. We have broadened free services with children up to the age of nine getting free travel, the senior free travel and the companion pass, which is being rolled out. We keep the fare structure and the fares under constant monitoring. We review it on a regular basis.
To respond to the climate crisis and the cost-of-living and fuel crises, we need to rapidly roll out as much public transport as quickly as is possible. That is not what is currently happening. Dublin Bus is sitting on 50 new electric buses. They are expensive and very good quality presumably but they are sitting there not being used because of a lack of appropriate infrastructure. The oldest new electric bus has been sitting there since November 2023. We have owned this bus for two years and five months. It is not on the road. It is not being used. Why? One reason is the lack of charging infrastructure and Broadstone buses cannot charged during the day because the grid is overloaded. Can the Minister not say to his Government colleagues that we should be prioritising charging our electric buses instead of giving all of our electricity to the data centres?
Each time we add one of these electric buses to the fleet, we are taking one diesel bus out. Why on earth are we taking buses, regardless of what fuel they are, out of the fleet when we should be adding capacity? Regardless of what fuel they are, it is much better for people in public transport rather than sitting in individual cars.
Let us turn to some facts.
Yes, please.
There are more people using public transport than ever. There were 365 million public transport journeys last year. That is a 6% increase. Our fare structure is affordable. We have many free fares across the system, which we will continue to maintain. On the other issue in relation to the electrification of our fleet, Limerick and Athlone are fully electrified. There were additional buses purchased in the previous Government term which are still being deployed at the rate of two a week. All the additional electric buses will be deployed across Dublin by this year and the remainder of them in quarter 1 of next year. There are two a week going into service now. I visited Broadstone to see that. It is not about grid capacity, although it was. There were issues with charging infrastructure. The Deputy is correct. I have addressed that. This is a matter that I inherited that we are dealing with. Bus Átha Cliath and its drivers have been really good in that regard. A lot of people are getting used to the use of those EV buses. We will continue to roll them out. There were issues. Those issues are being worked on and addressed. The remainder of those buses will be rolled out over the course of these few months. They are being rolled at a rate of two per week.
I ask the Minister to give me a date for when all the electric buses will be in use. I would like that. I will hold him to it.
Excellent.
There are 50 brand new electric buses still not being used. The issue that the Minister did not come back to is that each time we add one of the electric buses, we are withdrawing a diesel bus. Why on earth are we doing that? Why are we not having more buses in the system? That is what we need. We need a lot of more buses. Why are we scrapping routes? We introduced the BusConnects routes. That is fine. Why are we withdrawing other routes as a consequence of that? For example, in my constituency, there is a campaign to reinstate the 49 bus, which was cut when the F1 Busconnects route was introduced. It is a downgrade for a lot of people. It is taking people commuting to work to the city centre from Tallaght, Firhouse and Knocklyon an extra 20 to 30 minutes each way, which is ridiculous. It is driving people back into cars as a result. In response to the fuel crisis, why not reinstate the 49 bus? There are examples from other parts of the city. We should be expanding routes and buses, not swapping one in for another.
We actually are. We are expanding services across the country. The numbers bear that out. To answer the Deputy's question directly, to be fair to my predecessor, he had bought additional electric buses because the capital was there. They were purchased forward. They were not all going to go into use over the course of a month or two. It has gone on longer than it should. We are looking at about 10% of our fleet in Dublin being electrified. That is a good thing. Limerick and Athlone are fully electrified. We are investing €1 in every €4 in this NPD between now and 2030 in the transport sector. It is just short of €25 billion to deliver projects like MetroLink, BusConnects and the quality bus corridors, which we are starting. I mention Ballymun-Finglas to the city and the Liffey Valley to city. Both of those contracts are signed and both will be in construction this year. We are in the delivery phase.
The Deputy is right that there are deficits. I am not painting the picture that everything is perfect - it is not. We have a growing population. We have growing housing and had good news on housing again this morning - a 33% increase in housing completions in quarter 1 of this year. That is the type of sustainable progress we will continue to make across housing, transport and education.
Taxi Regulations
Barry Heneghan
Question:108. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of ongoing reports of wheelchair users being refused service by wheelchair accessible taxis in Dublin, particularly at night; the number of complaints received and penalties issued; the way in which drivers who received public funding under the wheelchair accessible vehicle, WAV, grant scheme are held accountable for refusing passengers; the immediate actions being taken to end this discrimination and guarantee equal access to taxi services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31296/26]
I welcome the huge investment in and development of private wires and look forward to the private wires system helping electrification and contributing to the solution to the issue Deputy Murphy raised regarding electrical infrastructure. The private wires Bill can reduce timelines for the installation of renewable projects and electric infrastructure.
I come to my question on the WAV grant scheme. I have been contacted by people in my constituency who are wheelchair users and are being refused by taxis despite the fact the taxis have received grants for wheelchair accessibility.
I thank the Deputy for his ongoing advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities and his good work with Ciarán Delaney, whom we both engage with. If there are complaints, I encourage the Deputy to ask the people affected to log them and we will take it up. It is important we have that data.
The regulation of the small public service vehicle, SPSV, sector, including the compliance, enforcement and administration of the wheelchair accessible vehicle grant scheme, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the NTA, under the provisions of the consolidated Taxi Regulation Act. The Minister and I have no role in the matter.
The Department has been informed that, in relation to Dublin, the NTA has received 13 WAV-related complaints in the last 12 months, with 11 received in the previous 12-month period. Any person who receives a WAV grant from the NTA must complete mandatory disability awareness training. It is a condition of receipt of any portion of the grant that the proposed driver of the WAV must either undertake the free half-day SPSV-specific disability awareness training provided by the NTA or provide evidence that they have completed a SPSV-specific disability awareness training course during the three years prior to the application date for a WAV grant.
Not all WAVs are grant aided. In 2024, 346 non-grant-aided WAV taxi and hackney licences were added to the SPSV fleet, alongside WAV grants given to 372 new SPSV licenceholders. To support all licenceholders and not just grant recipients in providing WAV services, the NTA extended free training to all SPSV licenceholders at the start of last year. Operators can undertake the training as often as required, free of charge, to ensure that they are confident to provide such services to a high standard for passengers. There will be no ambiguity from us. The passenger experience must be to a high standard. There can be no obfuscation. I encourage wheelchair users to log their complaints.
I thank the Minister of State for his engagement on the matter. I have constituents who are left waiting hours for wheelchair accessible taxis that will take them.
In response to a parliamentary question I submitted last July, the NTA acknowledged what the Minister of State just said. It stated it was giving training for the safe use of lifts and clamping systems and that, since that January, the training had been provided free of charge. I welcome that but the most common excuse given to constituents who have contacted me is that drivers are saying they are unable to operate the lift. That does not stand up to scrutiny. All holders of wheelchair accessible licences have a statutory obligation to provide the service. This issue has been raised with me and my former colleagues on Dublin City Council, including Councillor Nial Ring and Councillor Kevin Breen, who are working with local residents.
How many complaints have been received and penalties issued? Are drivers who received public money under the WAV scheme being held to account if they refuse passengers? It is not acceptable that we are giving money to drivers through a grant to make a vehicle accessible but they are not taking people with disabilities.
I concur with the Deputy that that should not be the experience of people. The NTA has been working to make it easier for taxi drivers nationally and locally to increase the numbers available to passengers.
The last year for which statistics are available is 2025. The NTA received 1,815 complaints regarding SPSVs compared to 1,713 in 2014. Complaints related to the condition of the vehicle, driver behaviour, hiring matters, as the Deputy articulated, and fare matters. The majority of complaints, 976, were fare matters, while driver behaviour accounted for 368 and 396 were hiring matters.
I will come back to the Deputy on fixed-charge notices. My information is that four were given, which might seem small in the overall scheme but the percentage of complaints is quite low, given the number of taxis we have and journeys undertaken. I would be happy to engage with the Deputy further on the matter outside the Chamber.
I will send it over to the Minister of State's office. I can give cases of constituents with physical disabilities who have been refused collection by taxis. There are also taxi drivers who have built up records and submitted them to the NTA showing how many people with physical disabilities they collect but who then did not get the grant. I ask that when the next grant comes out for accessibility or renewal of the lift in the back of the taxi, taxi men and women with a proven record of doing the job the grant is given for are prioritised, rather than it being a lottery scheme. If that is already being done, will the Minister of State show me the steps? I will send him correspondence from the NTA stating it is not doing this currently.
I think there was one fixed-charge notice fine this year. The range of fines has gone from €80 to €250. Around 20% of the fleet comprises wheelchair accessible vehicles; I think it is about 4,836. It is an important matter and deserves the attention the Deputy gives it. If a person has a complaint, they should log it so that we can follow through. We must make it easier and we are providing training and that accessibility peice for the taxi driver. I take the Deputy's point on board. We are on a journey and must continue that journey. It is because of people like the Deputy that we are seeing that mindset being changed. I commend him on his work.
Question No. 109 taken with Written Answers.
Public Transport
Tony McCormack
Question:110. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to improve public transport connectivity in County Offaly, particularly in rural areas where services remain limited; whether there are plans to expand bus routes or increase service frequency under the Connecting Ireland programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31116/26]
I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. Rural transport is an important point. In the context of the budget, the Minister and I are aware of the role that enhanced connectivity plays in supporting communities in Offaly. I commend the Deputy on the work he does in that regard.
In the budget for this year, the Department of Transport secured €940 million of funding for PSO and TFI Local Link services, providing a significant 43% uplift from last year. This package includes a dedicated €31 million for rural transport service provision, representing a 38% increase on last year’s funding. As the Deputy knows, people will use the service if they get it.
Offaly and Laois have been well served and seen significant investment in rural transport in recent years, with funding increasing by 36% between 2024 and 2025 to over €5.5 million. Passenger numbers are also increasing. The timetabled services in Offaly and Laois saw a 52% increase from 2024 to 2025.
Our public transport system is at an important juncture. To be fair to him, the Deputy has been advocating for it. We are experiencing growing passenger numbers and increasing demand. There is also the challenge, about which we have heard this morning, in parts of Dublin and Cork concerning congestion and getting enhanced and more frequent bus services to allow people to travel to and from work more easily.
In the interests of providing citizens with a high-class service, my focus as Minister of State with responsibility for rural transport is to stabilise the PSO position, ensure we have resilience and the routes we have now are functioning, reliable and sustainable, and progress improvements that were already under way.
With the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the other Minister of State in the Department, Deputy Canney, we will work with everybody to ensure new routes are provided and accessibility and connectivity are enhanced. I will engage with the Deputy further on the matter. I thank him for raising it.
I welcome the progress being made under the Connecting Ireland programme. I acknowledge the excellent work being carried out by Local Link services across the country. In rural communities in counties such as Offaly, Local Link has made a real difference in connecting people, particularly those who may not have access to a car. It has helped to address isolation and has provided vital links to services, employment and education. However, despite this progress, rural isolation remains a very real issue. There are still many areas where services are limited, infrequent or simply not available at the times people need them. For people living in rural Ireland, access to reliable public transport is not a convenience; it is essential. Will the Minister of State outline what further expansion is planned under Connecting Ireland to increase frequency and coverage in rural areas, and specifically how counties like Offaly will benefit from those improvements?
The Deputy is right in that access is not just an option; it is important not just for employment but also for connectivity, going to hospital appointments, going to medical services and even going to the local village. That is why we review local transport provision under the programme for Government commitment. The Minister and I are very much committed to ensuring we see an uplift again in the provision of transport links. This is critical.
The TFI Local Link rural transport programme has worked right across the country, east, west, north and south. I join the Deputy in congratulating and thanking those who administer and run the programme. What we are committed to doing through the programme is connecting the missing pieces. It will take time. We will be in the Estimates process seeking further support from the Department of Finance and the Department of public expenditure. I hope that will come because the Deputy is correct that it is the regular rural service and the demand-responsive element that have been critically successful. The proof of that is the number of passenger journeys.
Is féidir teacht ar Cheisteanna Scríofa ar www.oireachtas.ie.
Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website.