Written Answers Nos. 21-40
21. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the current average journey times for people travelling from Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk on the Dublin Bus routes 33 and 33X; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32888/25]
View answer22. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport to provide details for the past two years of any cancellations or partial cancellations of the Dublin Bus routes 33 and 33X; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32889/25]
View answer26. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if, given the capacity issues on the Dublin Bus route 33X, the NTA will introduce additional capacity on this route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32893/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 22 and 26 together.
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.
23. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the penalty there is for third party providers who cancel or partially cancel a service on route 33; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32890/25]
View answerAs 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 this case Dublin Bus.
The performance of all public transport operators is monitored by the NTA as part of the contractual arrangements in place between it and the operators. These contractual arrangements allow for not just the monitoring of performance by the NTA and the publication by it of annual performance reports, but importantly, the contracts also allow for the imposition of financial penalties where performance does not meet the required standard.
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.
24. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the methodology employed to ascertain the appropriateness of the BusConnects proposal in relation to the removal of the bus route 33; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32891/25]
View answerAs 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 services.
As the Deputy may be aware, BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in the bus system, providing better bus services across our cities. It is the largest investment in the bus system in the history of the State, and is managed by the NTA.
In Dublin, the major infrastructure element of BusConnects comprises Core Bus Corridor Schemes. New bus services in Dublin are already being delivered as part of BusConnects, with the first six phases of the BusConnects Network Redesign rolling out since 2021.
Overall, BusConnects will transform bus services in our cities, allowing passengers to travel more conveniently, quickly and sustainably.
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.
25. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the average journey time travelling from Balbriggan/Skerries/Rush/Lusk if the current BusConnects proposal is implemented, factoring in wait times for connections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32892/25]
View answerAs 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.
BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in the bus system, providing better bus services across our cities. It is the largest investment in the bus system in the history of the State and is managed by the NTA, as they have responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including BusConnects.
New bus services in Dublin are already being delivered, with the first five phases of the Network Redesign rolled out in recent years. Most recently, the E-Spine connecting Ballymun to Bray and L routes in Wicklow rolled out in January this year.
Overall, BusConnects will transform bus services in our cities, allowing passengers to travel more conveniently, quickly and sustainably, and I look forward to its full implementation.
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.
27. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether Dublin Bus drivers have been consulted for their views on the proposed BusConnects plan for bus route 33; if so, what their view is; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32894/25]
View answerAs 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 services.
As the Deputy may be aware, BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in the bus system, providing better bus services across our cities. It is the largest investment in the bus system in the history of the State, and is managed by the NTA.
In Dublin, the major infrastructure element of BusConnects comprises Core Bus Corridor Schemes. New bus services in Dublin are already being delivered as part of BusConnects, with the first six phases of the BusConnects Network Redesign rolling out since 2021.
Overall, BusConnects will transform bus services in our cities, allowing passengers to travel more conveniently, quickly and sustainably.
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.
28. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the expansion of bus services to and from Dublin Airport; what is included in the proposed expansion of bus services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32895/25]
View answerAs 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.
29. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the improvement of infrastructure for designated bus stops at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32896/25]
View answerAs 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/shelters nationally.
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.
30. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the Luas-to-Lucan project; if it will be brought to a stage where planning permission will be sought in the lifetime of the 34th Dáil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30607/25]
View answerAs 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 (GDA), including light rail.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the development of public transport infrastructure in the GDA, 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.
31. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the overall state of progress of the BusConnects scheme nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30608/25]
View answerAs 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 services.
As the Deputy may be aware, BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in the bus system, providing better bus services across our cities. It is the largest investment in the bus system in the history of the State, and is managed by the NTA. A summary of progress to date is as follows:
• Dublin: The first six phases of new bus routes as part of the bus Network in Dublin have rolled out since 2021. The NTA rolled out Phase 6A, the E-Spine (Ballymun and Santry to Bray and Dun Laoghaire) in January 2025. The rollout will continue, subject to sufficient budget and operational readiness. An Bord Pleanála has approved all 12 Core Bus Corridor schemes to date, though Judicial Reviews are ongoing in relation to six of these schemes. The Department expects the first of these Corridors to enter construction this year. Over 100 double-deck electric buses are in service in Dublin.
• Cork: A third round of public consultation on what are now the Preferred Route Options for the 11 Sustainable Transport Corridors in Cork concluded in December 2023. Rollout of the network redesign will occur on a phased basis in the years ahead. The Preliminary Business Case is with Department of Transport for review.
• Galway: The network redesign was finalised in December 2023. The NTA has received planning approval for the Cross City Link project (currently subject to Judicial Review) and the Dublin Road scheme.
• Limerick: The redesigned network finalised in December 2023. 34 double-deck electric buses rolled out in 2024. The first phase of 30 charging guns at Bus Éireann’s Roxboro depot is available for use.
• Waterford: The NTA published the redesigned network for public consultation in July 2024. Following this, the final network was published in January 2025.
Overall, BusConnects will transform bus services in our cities, allowing passengers to travel more conveniently, quickly and sustainably.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply.
32. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a breakdown, by centre, of the average driving test waiting list times; to provide a breakdown of the number of applicants waiting to sit their driving test; the number of driving testers employed; the number of testers on part-time versus full-time contracts in each driving test centre, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32990/25]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. This includes all application and scheduling matters. As such, the information requested is held by the Authority.
I have therefore referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
More generally, the RSA has published its plan to restore the average national wait time to sit a driver test to 10 weeks by September. The plan is available on the RSA website. While the current average wait time of approximately 20 weeks remains too high, it is positive that progress is being made with the average wait time having reduced from approximately 27 weeks at the end of April.
A key part of the RSA plan is the recruitment and training of more driver testers. The RSA has an approved sanction to recruit up to 70 new driver testers which will provide for an increase in driver testers to 200. The recruitment and training of these testers is ongoing with the first tranche now deployed.
33. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport for a progress report on the battery-operated DART to Wicklow town; the timeline for its operation; the actions that have to be taken before that date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32992/25]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, as Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport in Ireland, including in relation to the rail network. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).
The NTA Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042, adopted in 2023, included a recommendation to extend the DART service to Wicklow town. I understand this extension can be facilitated through utilising the new battery-electric DART carriages which are currently arriving in Ireland and undergoing testing.
The new battery-electric DART carriages will first be deployed from Dublin to Drogheda from next year. As more carriages arrive, it may be feasible to also deploy them to extend DART services to and from Wicklow, subject to funding and approvals for the required charging infrastructure. The NTA is currently examining this issue with a view to progressing the extension around 2029.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter and the specific issues raised by the Deputy, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
34. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport for a breakdown of the cost for the Dodder greenway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32995/25]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel. Funding is administered through the National Transport Authority (NTA), who, in partnership with local authorities, have responsibility for the selection and development of specific projects in each local authority area.
Noting the role of the NTA in the matter, I have referred your question to that agency for a more detailed answer. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days, please contact my private office.
35. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport to outline the funding provided for staffing in Bus Éireann in each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form. [33024/25]
View answerAs 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 matter raised in relation to funding provided for staffing in Bus Éireann is an operational matter for the company. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to Bus Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
36. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport to outline the funding provided for staffing in Dublin Bus in each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form. [33025/25]
View answerAs 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 matter raised in relation to funding provided for staffing in Dublin Bus is an operational matter for the company. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to Dublin Bus for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
37. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport the reason the disabled person’s parking card (known as the blue badge) has to be renewed every two years; if he will review this requirement given the difficulty it poses for disabled people (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33073/25]
View answerAs Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I appreciate that the two-year renewal requirement for the Disabled Parking Permit may be inconvenient for permit holders with permanent mobility impairment.
While most permit holders are fully compliant with the scheme, it is important to maximise security and minimise opportunities for fraud and misuse. A defined validity period restricts the time for which a lost or stolen permit, or a permit for a person who is since deceased, can continue to be used.
An Garda Síochána, as part of Operation Enable since 2017, identified the latter as a particularly widespread problem, even within the current two-year limit. To extend the validity period would greatly expand the potential for this kind of fraud, which takes disabled parking bays away from those who need them and undermines the scheme as a whole.
Accordingly, the bodies responsible for issuing permits on the Department's behalf, the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland and the Irish Wheelchair Association, consistently stress the need to be able to keep track of who possesses a permit and to ensure that permits issued to people who have since died are taken out of circulation as quickly as possible, either by notification or expiry.
For these reasons, my Department has no plans to extend the current validity period for disabled parking cards.
38. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport the reason a booking fee of €2.50 is imposed on free travel pass holders; if this fee will be abolished as it is unfair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33074/25]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I am responsible for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in day-to-day operational matters of public transport operators, including those related to the operation of commercial bus services, their fare structures, or the acceptance of free travel passes. Further, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has no direct involvement with the free travel scheme on commercial services either.
I would like to reassure the Deputy that non-refundable deposits are not required across Public Service Obligation (PSO) funded bus services. While all PSO transport services, including Local Link services, are part of the Free Travel Scheme (FTS), some commercial bus operators are also part of the Scheme . Those private bus companies that have opted into the FTS are reimbursed directly by the Department of Social Protection for carrying Free Travel passengers.
In relation to rail services, there is no requirement for FTS passengers to book train journeys online in order to use their pass. An allocation of bookings on all Intercity services can be reserved online without a fee for free travel pass/existing valid ticket holders. When this allocation is fully booked, all remaining seats can be reserved by free travel pass/existing valid ticket holders for €2.50 per journey.
I am aware that a number of the commercial bus operators which participate in the FTS require such booking deposits in order for passengers to reserve seats on their services. However, these private companies operate on a commercial basis and as such decisions regarding fares and booking fees are an operational matter for the companies themselves.
39. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport the steps being taken to ensure an automatic ramp is on trains to avoid a person using a wheelchair having to call ahead and be assisted with a ramp to board and disembark the train; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33075/25]
View answerAs 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 promoting the development of integrated, accessible public transport networks and infrastructure. The NTA works with the relevant public transport operators, for example Irish Rail, who has responsibility for operational issues.
From a policy perspective, I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department of An Taoiseach has established a unit within its Department which will focus on disability, reflecting a commitment in the Programme for Government to a step change in supports and services required by disabled people. In my role as Minister for Transport, I will be engaging with that unit with an emphasis on addressing the wider issues such as ensuring that all public transport operators provide safe and accessible access for all passengers.
Irish Rail recently announced that the period of 'advance notice' had been reduced from 12 hours to one hour at 15 train stations nationwide. These stations cover almost every terminus station on the network, as well as key interchange points such as Limerick Junction, Mallow and Athlone, and represent nearly 60% of all assistance requests received by Irish Rail.
In light of Irish Rail's responsibility for access to trains for wheelchair users, I have forwarded your question to the company for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
40. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport when a village (details supplied) will be provided a local link service following proof of demand from those living there for a service in the area. [33076/25]
View answerAs Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport I recognise the importance of boosting connectivity in County Roscommon, which I am reinforcing through my introductory interactions with Local Link offices nationwide, including in Co. Roscommon. In the new Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, this Government has committed to increasing Local Link services in rural areas to better connect villages, towns and cities.
Under Budget 2025, the Department has secured a funding package of €658.442 million for Public Service Obligation (PSO) and TFI Local Link services (an increase from €613.813 million in 2024). This package includes funding for the continuation of the various fare initiatives, such as the Young Adult Card, and the 90-minute fare until the end of 2025. Funding has also been provided to extend free child fares on PSO Services to include those aged 5 to 8-years old, and to support the roll-out new and enhanced bus services under programmes such as BusConnects, Connecting Ireland and new town services.
As with all plans, any additional funding for Local Link services would be subject to the annual Budgetary and Estimates process.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including delivering the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan and New Town Services.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for the rollout of new and enhanced services, including in County Roscommon, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
