Written Answers Nos. 294-312
294. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport to provide details on the proposed Blanchardstown Luas line under the Luas 2050 vision; the steps taken regarding this development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37883/25]
View answer295. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport to provide details on the proposed Tyrrelstown Luas line under the Luas 2050 vision; the steps taken regarding this development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37884/25]
View answer296. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport whether any potential routes have been identified for the proposed Blanchardstown Luas line under the Luas 2050 vision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37885/25]
View answer297. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport whether any potential routes have been identified for the proposed Tyrrelstown Luas line under the Luas 2050 vision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37886/25]
View answer298. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport whether any funding has been allocated for the proposed Blanchardstown Luas line under the Luas 2050 vision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37887/25]
View answer299. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport whether any funding has been allocated for the proposed Tyrrelstown Luas line under the Luas 2050 vision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37888/25]
View answer300. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport to provide details on the proposed Orbital West Luas line under the Luas 2050 vision; the steps taken regarding this development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37889/25]
View answer301. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport whether any potential routes have been identified for the proposed Orbital West Luas line under the Luas 2050 vision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37890/25]
View answer302. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport whether any funding has been allocated for the proposed Orbital West Luas line under the Luas 2050 vision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37891/25]
View answer304. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport when it is envisaged that work will start on the development of the proposed Blanchardstown Luas line under the Luas 2050 vision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37894/25]
View answer305. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport when it is envisaged that work will start on the development of the proposed Tyrrelstown Luas line under the Luas 2050 vision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37895/25]
View answer306. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport when it is envisaged that work will start on the development of the proposed Orbital West Luas line under the Luas 2050 vision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37896/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 294 to 302, inclusive, and 304 to 306, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy may be aware, the NTA has the statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including light rail.
The Transport Strategy for the GDA 2022-2042 was published by the NTA in January 2023. The strategy sets out a statutory framework for transport investment across the region over a twenty-year period and provides a clear statement of transport planning policy for the GDA.
There are four light rail proposals identified for development and delivery within the 2022-2042 lifetime of the strategy. These are proposed expansions of the Luas network to Finglas, Lucan, Poolbeg and Bray. Other possible projects, identified in the Transport Strategy for the GDA 2022-2042, for delivery in the period after 2042 include a Green Line extension to Tyrrelstown and a light rail line from the City Centre to Blanchardstown.
As part of the periodic review of the Transport Strategy, the demand for possible orbital light rail lines will also be considered, again for delivery after 2042. In reviewing the Transport Strategy for the GDA 2022-2042, the NTA will be informed in part by TII and their Luas 2050 vision.
Noting NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
303. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Transport for a timeline for the introduction of free public transport for children under the age of nine, which was announced in budget 2025 and expected to be launched in quarter 3 of 2025 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37893/25]
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 responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts.
Under Budget 2025, funding has been allocated to the Department of Transport to extend free public transport for children to include those aged 5 to 8 years. This builds on the 2017 introduction of free travel for children under five on subsidised public transport services, and aims to support families with their living costs, while also encouraging public transport use from a young age. This further rollout, is in line with the Programme for Government commitment to examine the further expansion of free public transport for children.
The NTA has previously advised that subject to there being no unforeseen delays, the scheme is expected to launch in the third quarter of 2025.
In light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to them for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
307. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Transport to provide a breakdown of annual funding provided to TII for winter maintenance in each of the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025; the projected funding for 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37897/25]
View answer308. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Transport to provide a breakdown of funding allocated to TII under the winter maintenance fleet upgrade programme for new spreaders and brine harvesters since 2023; the amount of same that has been spent; the projected spend in this area for 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37898/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 307 and 308 together.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Infrastructure Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you.
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
309. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider making it a requirement that all taxi drivers operating wheelchair-accessible vehicles are properly certified to use the ramp and equipment, so that passengers with disabilities are not left without transport; if he will clarify the current rules in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37904/25]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including SPSV licensing and wheelchair accessible vehicle training, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. I have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV sector.
Accordingly, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you have not received a reply within 10 working days.
310. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport when camera enforcement of bus lanes will begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37923/25]
View answer311. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport when camera enforcement of red lights will begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37924/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 310 and 311 together.
Reflecting the Programme for Government, the expanded use of cameras for road safety and enforcement purposes will be a key focus of the Phase 2 Action Plan of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy to 2030. Increased camera deployment will be guided by the first National Safety Camera Strategy, the development of which is being led by Transport Infrastructure Ireland in partnership with all key road safety agencies and departments.
In the first instance, the approach of the Strategy is focused on cameras for the enforcement of speeding. The approach will be flexible to accommodate further offences over time. It will provide the framework for increased deployment of cameras across the network, in both urban and rural locations, to assist with the enforcement of a wide range of road traffic offences. The National Transport Authority will be leading the development of the approach to camera based enforcement of traffic management offences, with further detail on this to be elaborated later in the year.
312. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport what the next phase of the BusConnects network in Dublin is; and whether it will include 24-hour services. [37925/25]
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, with the aim to provide better bus services across five 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. The NTA rolled out the E-Spine (Ballymun to Bray and Dun Laoghaire) in January 2025. This roll-out will continue incrementally.
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 working days.
