Written Answers Nos. 762-781
762. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether the Government or the NTA plans to expand the TFI Anseo smart demand-responsive transport model to additional urban or rural areas, including North County Dublin or other Greater Dublin Area communities; and if so, to set out any timelines and priority criteria for expansion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1935/26]
View answerAs Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to rural public transport service provision; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. In light of the NTA responsibilities 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.
763. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether the NTA or Transport for Ireland has identified funding requirements and sources for scaling up the TFI Anseo service beyond the pilot phase, including any projected costings for a wider roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1936/26]
View answerAs Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to rural public transport service provision; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, including budgeting across the Transport Coordination Units. In light of the NTA responsibilities 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.
764. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport to clarify how the NTA intends to ensure integration of TFI Anseo with existing public transport services such as Local Link, Bus Éireann and Dublin Area routes, including fare integration and connections to fixed-route services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1937/26]
View answerAs Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to rural public transport service provision; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. In light of the NTA responsibilities 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.
765. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether there are plans to publish detailed passenger satisfaction and accessibility data specific to the TFI Anseo pilot, including feedback on service hours, booking ease, coverage and accessibility for people with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1938/26]
View answerAs Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to rural public transport service provision; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. In light of the NTA responsibilities 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.
766. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport when the final funding distribution to the NTA under the Sectoral Investment Plan will be confirmed in full, and to set out the expected timeline thereafter for the NTA to publish its detailed investment plan covering all public transport projects within its remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1940/26]
View answer767. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the performance metrics and reporting arrangements by which the NTA will track and report progress on the delivery of major transport programmes under the National Development Plan between 2026 and 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1941/26]
View answer768. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport to clarify the way in which community engagement and stakeholder consultation will be integrated into the delivery process for major NTA-led projects within the Sectoral Investment Plan; the mechanisms that are in place to ensure local inputs are considered throughout project development and delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1942/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 766 to 768, inclusive, together.
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, which includes performance measurement and stakeholder consultation.
The Government published the NDP in July and that we published the Sectoral Plan for Transport in November, sees the allocation of €22.3 billion in Exchequer resources to Transport between 2026 and 2030, along with an additional allocation of €2 billion from the country's Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund to support the development of MetroLink. Of this total allocation, funding of circa €10 billion for public transport infrastructure is earmarked from 2026 to 2030, in addition to the €2 billion for MetroLink, primarily in line with the Department’s NIFTI intervention hierarchy of Maintain, Optimise, Improve, and New. This approach involves prioritising investment in the protection and renewal of existing assets before investing in new ones, on economic and environmental grounds.
The NTA regularly reports to my Department of the status of investment projects to ensure oversight from both a cost and performance perspective.
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.
769. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether additional detail can be provided on the NTA's strategic priorities for public transport investment over the period to 2030, specifically on the way these align with targets on sustainability, modal shift, accessibility and climate commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1943/26]
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, including setting its strategic priorities for public transport investment over the period to 2030.
The Government published the National Development Plan (NDP) Review in July and the Department of Transport published the Sectoral Plan for Transport in November, which sees the allocation of €22.3 billion in Exchequer resources to the transport sector from 2026 to 2030, along with an additional allocation of €2 billion from the country's Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund to support the development of MetroLink. Of this total allocation, funding of circa €10 billion for public transport infrastructure is earmarked from 2026 to 2030, in addition to the €2 billion for MetroLink, primarily in line with the Department’s NIFTI intervention hierarchy of Maintain, Optimise, Improve, and New. This approach involves prioritising investment in the protection and renewal of existing assets before investing in new ones, on economic and environmental grounds.
In regards to the NTA's strategic priorities for public transport investment over the period to 2030, these will align with the funding priorities set out in the Sectoral Plan and broader Government policy.
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.
770. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the current status of work to improve accessibility of public transport services for persons with disabilities, including planned upgrades to stations, vehicles and service information systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1944/26]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 and the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, the Oireachtas assigned statutory responsibility to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network and public transport infrastructure. The NTA in turn works with the relevant public transport operators, for example Dublin Bus, who have responsibility for day-to-day operational issues, to progressively make public transport accessible.
In light of the NTA's over-arching statutory responsibilities for accessible public transport, including upgrades to stations, vehicles and service information systems, 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.
771. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport to provide a timeline for the completion of accessibility upgrades on train station platforms, bus stops and other public transport infrastructure nationwide, including specific targets for Dublin and North County Dublin localities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1945/26]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 and the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, the Oireachtas assigned statutory responsibility to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network and public transport infrastructure. The NTA in turn works with the relevant public transport operators, for example Dublin Bus, who have responsibility for day-to-day operational issues, to progressively make public transport accessible.
In light of the NTA's over-arching statutory responsibilities for accessible public transport, including in Dublin and North County Dublin localities, 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.
772. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the measures in place to ensure consistent provision of real-time accessible travel information (audio, visual and tactile) across all modes of public transport for persons with sensory or cognitive disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1946/26]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 and the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, the Oireachtas assigned statutory responsibility to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network and public transport infrastructure. The NTA in turn works with the relevant public transport operators, for example Dublin Bus, who have responsibility for day-to-day operational issues, to progressively make public transport accessible.
In light of the NTA's over-arching statutory responsibilities for accessible public transport, including real-time accessible travel information (audio, visual and tactile), 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.
773. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the way the National Transport Authority and transport operators are ensuring that training for staff interacting with passengers with disabilities (including frontline drivers and customer service personnel) is standardised and implemented across all services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1947/26]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 and the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, the Oireachtas assigned statutory responsibility to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network and public transport infrastructure. The NTA in turn works with the relevant public transport operators, for example Dublin Bus, who have responsibility for day-to-day operational issues, including for staffing issues and training, to progressively make public transport accessible.
While the individual transport companies for responsibility for the provision of staff training in their own companies, in light of the Deputy's Question and the NTA's over-arching statutory responsibilities for accessible public transport, 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.
774. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the planned enhancements to accessible transport options (including demand-responsive services like Anseo and Local Link) in rural and urban areas to address gaps highlighted in committee discussions on transport for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1948/26]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
In light of my role, one of my core priorities is to ensure disabled people, whether they live in urban or rural areas, have the same ‘access of choice’ transport options as everyone else. Also from a policy perspective, the Government launched the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People (NHRSDP) on 03 September 2025. Pillar 5 of the NHRSDP, 'Transport and Mobility', contains a number of priority transport actions which were developed with representatives of the disability community. In line with the agreed NHRSDP structures, these priority actions are the primary focus for all NHRSDP stakeholders this year. Included as priority actions are the expansion of the Independent Travel Support (ITS) scheme to rural and regional areas and the piloting of SMART DRT (Anseo) services in rural and regional areas.
From a funding perspective, we have an ambitious programme of investment planned for the next five years, all of which will be adhere to the principles of universal design and therefore help deliver a more accessible and inclusive transport network in the years ahead. In addition to new infrastructure, I am pleased that I have been able to increase funding under the Public Transport Accessibility Retrofit Programme to €25m in 2026. We will maintain that increased level of retrofit funding under the new National Development Plan which includes accessibility enhancements to bus and train stations in rural and regional locations.
Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 and the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, the Oireachtas assigned statutory responsibility to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network and public transport infrastructure. The NTA in turn works with the relevant public transport operators, for example Bus Éireann and TFI Local Link in rural and regional areas, who have responsibility for day-to-day operational issues, to progressively make public transport accessible including in rural and regional areas.
In light of the NTA's over-arching statutory responsibilities for accessible public transport, including improvements in rural and regional areas, 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.
775. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has reviewed the barriers to independent travel experienced by persons with disabilities, including physical infrastructure, service frequency, and wayfinding supports, and if so to publish a summary of findings and planned actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1949/26]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
From a policy perspective, the Government launched the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People (NHRSDP) on 03 September 2025. Pillar 5 of the NHRSDP, 'Transport and Mobility', contains a number of priority transport actions. I was pleased to meet with members of the disability sector on 29 September 2025 for a constructive dialogue around the NHRSDP transport actions and our shared ambition to ensure 100% transport accessibility in Ireland. Included as a priority NHRSDP action, assigned to the National Transport Authority (NTA), is the expansion of the Independent Travel Support (ITS) scheme to rural and regional areas.
Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 and the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, the Oireachtas assigned statutory responsibility to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network and public transport infrastructure. This means that my Department is not involved in the planning or management of public transport services. The NTA in turn works with the relevant public transport operators, for example Irish Rail, who have responsibility for day-to-day operational issues, to progressively make public transport accessible.
In light of the NTA's over-arching statutory responsibilities for accessible public transport, including physical infrastructure, service frequency, and wayfinding supports, 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.
776. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport to provide details of the engagement with disability representative organisations undertaken during the development and implementation of transport accessibility improvements; the way in which feedback from those organisations has been incorporated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1952/26]
View answerIt is only by really engaging with those who have lived experience of disability, that we can remove the barriers which disabled people face on a daily basis. As the Deputy is aware, Government launched the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People (NHRSDP) on 3rd September 2025, a strategy that puts great importance on engagement with disabled people, in line with the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
In line with my role as Minister for Transport, with responsibility for policy (including Pillar 5 of the new Strategy) and overall funding in relation to public transport, I met with members of the disability sector on 29 September 2025 for a constructive dialogue around our shared ambition to ensure 100% transport accessibility in Ireland. I really welcomed the opportunity to hear views on transport accessibility and the NHRSDP priority transport actions. It was a valuable and rewarding exchange with Disabled Person Organisations, service providers, Disability User Groups, and board representatives from transport operators. Additionally, in the coming weeks, my Department will be establishing the Pillar 5 Monitoring Group. in line with the agreed NHRSDP monitoring and oversight structures. This group will see representation from the key stakeholders mentioned above, in addition to the relevant Government Departments and agencies responsible for ensuring a "whole of journey" approach is taken to public transport accessibility.
Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 and the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, the Oireachtas assigned statutory responsibility to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network and public transport infrastructure. The NTA in turn works with the relevant public transport operators, for example Dublin Bus, who have responsibility for day-to-day operational issues, to progressively make public transport accessible.
Each of the transport operators has an Access Officer whose role includes assisting disabled people to use public transport services, and a Disability User Group (DUG). The DUGs provide a forum for operators to engage with Disability Person Organisations (DPOs) and disability organisations on operational type accessibility proposals and developments, and for disability organisations to raise accessibility issues.
In light of the NTA's over-arching statutory responsibilities for accessible public transport, including the development and implementation of transport accessibility improvements, 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.
777. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether as part of the redesign of the Rush Lusk Railway Station entrance and the railway order application for the DART+ Coastal North scheme there will be an increase in the number of parking spaces in the station car park taking into account the rise in demand for parking since the fare increases for Skerries commuters and the expected population growth in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1953/26]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) including, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, the DART+ programme and also the provision of parking spaces at Railway Stations.
As part of the DART+ programme, DART+ Coastal North will provide an extension of DART services from the City Centre to Drogheda. The Railway Order for DART+ Coastal North was approved by An Coimisiún Pleanála in August 2025. However, a redesign of the Rush Lusk Railway Station entrance is not included under the scope of the DART+ Coastal North project.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
778. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding any product or service purchased from Israel or the Occupied Territories by his Department in 2025, broken down by description and amount paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1990/26]
View answerMy Department adheres to the principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts when acquiring goods and services. This is a requirement of EU law in accordance with the EU Procurement Directives. Central to these procedures is the requirement to allow fair competition between suppliers through the submission of tenders, following advertising of the tender competition on the e-tenders site and on the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), where appropriate. Such tender competitions are open to any company or country, subject to the terms of all EU and UN restrictions.
I can confirm that my Department has not engaged any contract for products or services from companies based in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories in the past 2 years.
In addition, the Department is not aware of any indirect acquisition of products, regarding the operation of third-party supply chains within contracts. However, given supply chains can be complex, it cannot be entirely ruled out that individual products or services made in or provided by companies based in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories may have been received indirectly as part of other products or services contracts entered into by the Department, by third-party suppliers.
779. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department, or any body under its aegis, has funded, or is funding, other than where legal costs were awarded against the employer by a court or tribunal, the legal costs of any current or concluded litigation taken by an employee or former employee against that Department or body, in each of the past five years; if so, to provide details of the number of such cases, the bodies involved, and the total costs incurred in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2030/26]
View answer780. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the basis on which his Department, or a body under its aegis, may fund the legal costs of an employee or former employee in litigation where that employee is in dispute with, or taking proceedings against, the same body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2048/26]
View answer781. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether the funding of employee legal costs in disputes against his Department, or a body under its aegis, is standard practice; if not, the circumstances in which such funding may be permitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2066/26]
View answer782. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport to outline the guidance, codes, circulars or directions that govern the payment of legal costs by his Department, and bodies under its aegis, in employment-related disputes, including any requirements under the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies or Departmental sanction arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2084/26]
View answer783. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether the funding of employee legal costs in litigation against the employing body could give rise to governance, accountability, or value for money concerns; whether his Department has issued any guidance in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2102/26]
View answer784. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has reviewed, or intends to review, the practice of Departments, and bodies under their aegis, funding legal costs in employment disputes involving those same bodies; and if so, the outcome or timeline for such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2120/26]
View answer785. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport whether arrangements to fund legal costs in employment disputes involving his Department, or bodies under its aegis, require the prior approval of his Department or the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2138/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 779 to 785, inclusive, together.
The information requested is currently being collated by my officials and will be forwarded to the Deputy by my private office within ten working days.
As these questions also relate to agencies under the remit of the Department of Transport, I have referred the question to these agencies to reply to you directly. If the Deputy does not receive a response within ten working days, please contact my Private Office.
