Paul Donnelly
Question:254. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport if Iarnród Éireann will fund a project (details supplied); and, if so, when this work will commence. [13852/25]
View answerRail Network
Questions (254)
Written answers
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area including, through engagement with Iarnród Éireann, works at Connolly Station.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter and the specific issues raised by the Deputy, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct response. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Orders.
Official Engagements
Questions (255)
Paul Donnelly
Question:255. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport if the Minister of State at his Department, Deputy Buttimer, met with the New Zealand Prime Minister during the recent Saint Patrick's Day events. [13853/25]
View answerWritten answers
During Minister Buttimer's recent Saint Patrick's Day visit to New Zealand he did not meet with the prime minister.
Dublin Bus
Questions (256)
Paul Donnelly
Question:256. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport the number and percentage of the Dublin Bus fleet over 12 years old, as of 14 March 2025. [13854/25]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.
The query raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Dublin Bus. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Orders.
Traffic Management
Questions (257)
Danny Healy-Rae
Question:257. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if it is Government policy to remove roundabouts; if so, where this decision originated from; the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13874/25]
View answerWritten answers
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Councils' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority.
There is no Government policy to remove roundabouts. When carrying out road improvement works, the local authority will carry out an assessment which will determine the appropriate junction type and arrive at an appropriate design for the particular situation. There are a number of design factors to be considered for each situation, including whether roundabouts are appropriate. There are a number of guidelines and standards utilised to arrive at the most appropriate solution. To assist, a number of publications are set out below.
Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS): Section 4.4.3 sets out design considerations and principles for the use of roundabouts at junctions in urban areas.
Cycle Design Manual which is published by the National Transport Authority and the Department of Transport in September 2023: Section 4.6 sets out details on roundabout types, design principles and considerations
Traffic Signs Manual, as published by the Department of Transport: Details of the traffic signs to be used in respect of roundabouts.
Geometric Design of Junctions (priority junctions, direct accesses, roundabouts, grade separated, and compact grade separated junctions’ - DN-GEO-03060 as published by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) sets out design priorities for roundabouts.
Traffic Management
Questions (258, 260, 269)
Danny Healy-Rae
Question:258. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the removal of the Park Road Roundabout, Killarney; if this is Government and Transport Infrastructure Ireland policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13877/25]
View answerDanny Healy-Rae
Question:260. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the reasons for a change from a roundabout to a traffic light system at the Park Road Roundabout, Killarney (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13884/25]
View answerDanny Healy-Rae
Question:269. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the expected cost of the proposed demolition of the roundabout at Park Road, Killarney; the cost of replacing it with traffic lights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14111/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 258, 260 and 269 together.
As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII ultimately delivers the National Roads Programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the National Planning Framework and the NDP.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Orders.
Question No. 259 answered with Question No. 252.
Question No. 260 answered with Question No. 258.
Official Engagements
Questions (261)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:261. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he has spoken with his UK counterpart since his appointment. [13921/25]
View answerWritten answers
Since taking up my role in the Department of Transport, I have not yet had the opportunity to meet with my counterpart in the UK. However, I will be travelling to London in April and I hope to meet her then.
Bus Services
Questions (262)
Tom Brabazon
Question:262. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Transport if the NTA will fund the installation of a real time information display screen at bus stop number 739 in Dublin. [13997/25]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy may be aware, as Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of bus stops and any related displays. There is a commitment under the Programme for Government to ensure that public transport operators provide safe and accessible access for all passengers and a commitment to work with local authorities and national bodies to improve public transport options and infrastructure. Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Orders.
Bus Services
Questions (263)
Tom Brabazon
Question:263. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Transport if the NTA will approve a new Dublin Bus service from the Donaghmede area of Dublin 13 to Dublin Airport. [13998/25]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) 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.
In light of the NTA’s responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Orders.
Question No. 264 answered with Question No. 214.
Transport Costs
Questions (265)
Paula Butterly
Question:265. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Transport to respond to correspondence received (details supplied) in relation to the 2025 Taxsaver fares determination and the new fare structure coming into effect in June this year; if the commuter zone tickets will be extended to Dundalk given the significant number of people commuting to Dublin on the train on a daily basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14039/25]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts.
In their capacity as fare regulator, on the 27th of April 2023, the NTA published a new National Fares Strategy, and following this on the 18th of January 2024 they published the first of a series of Fares Determination related to the strategy.
The most significant change in the fare determination was the implementation of a new ‘Dublin Commuter Zone’ (extending from the outer edge of the Dublin City Zone to approximately 50 km from the centre of Dublin), with simplified Leap capping, as well as changes to some Intercity Rail and town bus fares. This represents a more consistent and equitable fares approach, and one that is easier for customers to understand.
This area was selected based on a review of future public transport network proposals, for example the implementation of DART+, along with analysis of ticket sales information to determine travel demand. Later Phases will include the introduction of free transfer flat fares in the regional cities and certain towns and distance-based fares for the rest of Ireland, outside towns and cities.
In light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Orders.
Social Media
Questions (266)
Gary Gannon
Question:266. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Transport the percentage of social media video accessible, such as providing the information or activities posted on each of his Department’s social media accounts, or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under its remit, including closed captioning and subtitling and Irish Sign Language translations, between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024, inclusive. [14062/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Transport is fully committed to accessibility in its communications. Closed captioning and subtitling are used in almost all the Department’s social media video output, the majority of which is produced in house by the Department itself.
My department also avails of accessibility functions such as autogenerated captions provided by social media platforms to ensure that video content is accessible to as many people as possible.
Regarding bodies under the Department’s aegis, this is an operational matter for the agencies themselves. The Department will request the relevant bodies reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Orders.
Question No. 267 answered with Question No. 243.
Question No. 268 answered with Question No. 243.
Question No. 269 answered with Question No. 258.
Public Transport
Questions (270)
Erin McGreehan
Question:270. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Transport the reason Dundalk has been excluded from the new zonal ticketing system for the Dublin Commuter Area, as outlined in the 2024 public transport fares determination; if he will consider including Dundalk in this system, given its impact on the Taxsaver fare structure. [14134/25]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts.
In their capacity as fare regulator, on the 27th of April 2023, the NTA published a new National Fares Strategy, and following this on the 18th of January 2024 they published the first of a series of Fares Determination related to the strategy.
The most significant change in the fare determination was the implementation of a new ‘Dublin Commuter Zone’ (extending from the outer edge of the Dublin City Zone to approximately 50 km from the centre of Dublin), with simplified Leap capping, as well as changes to some Intercity Rail and town bus fares. This represents a more consistent and equitable fares approach, and one that is easier for customers to understand.
This area was selected based on a review of future public transport network proposals, for example the implementation of DART+, along with analysis of ticket sales information to determine travel demand. Later Phases will include the introduction of free transfer flat fares in the regional cities and certain towns and distance-based fares for the rest of Ireland, outside towns and cities.
In light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Orders.