Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
348. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Transport to report on the work of his Department in trying to address traffic congestion levels in Dublin while awaiting the delivery of public transport projects, following the publication of the Accelerating Infrastructure Report which highlights the significant effects traffic congestion has on Dublin. [6505/26]
View answer350. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has data on traffic congestion in Dublin; and if car journeys in Dublin are taking longer when compared to the past five years. [6508/26]
View answer351. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Transport the way in which his Department is working to account for traffic congestion that has been displaced by active travel and road narrowing works. [6509/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 348, 350 and 351 together.
As Minister for Transport, I acknowledge that Dublin is facing congestion challenges. I also recognise the impact of congestion on socio-economic factors as well as personal health and well-being.
Encouraging a shift from private cars to public transport is a core priority under the Programme for Government. The funding provided in the NDP Sectoral Implementation Plan will see significant advancements in public transport projects in Dublin as well as across Ireland, which will help tackle congestion by making public transport more accessible, reliable, and affordable.
The Review of the National Development Plan (NDP) published in July 2025 allocated €22.3 billion in Exchequer resources to the transport sector from 2026 to 2030, with an additional allocation of €2 billion from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund to support the development of MetroLink. This is an unprecedented level of investment in the transport sector and represents an almost 87% increase as compared to the last five-year period under the previous National Development Plan.
The Sectoral Plan provides for the further implementation of the BusConnects Dublin Programme. The major infrastructure element of BusConnects Dublin is the construction of Core Bus Corridors. An Coimisiún Pleanála has approved planning permission for all 12 Core Bus Corridor Schemes.
The first of these, the Liffey Valley to City Centre scheme, entered construction in 2025 and is due to be completed in 2028. The second scheme, Ballymun-Finglas to City Centre, was approved by Government in late 2025 and will enter construction in the coming months. The Sectoral Investment Plan will support the construction of these and at least two additional schemes between 2026 and 2030.
In addition, funding provided in the Sectoral Investment Plan will support the ongoing electrification of bus depots and the purchase of further zero emissions electric buses.
In relation to MetroLink, An Coimisiún Pleanála published its decision to grant the MetroLink Railway Order in October 2025. This decision was subsequently subject to legal challenge, which has now been withdrawn. I warmly welcome the decision to withdraw the legal challenge, as we now have full planning permission and funding in place to move MetroLink forward towards procurement and construction.
An Coimisiún Pleanála also granted the Railway Order for the Luas Finglas extension, with conditions, in October 2025. Regarding the current status, I can advise that three separate judicial review applications have been submitted on the project and this is under examination.
Similarly, funding secured under the new NDP will see construction start before 2030 on the DART+ programme, beginning with DART+ West, which is the crucial enabler of the rest of the programme.
Funding in the Sectoral Plan will also allow the CPO processes for South-West to commence this year and aspects of the procurement framework put in place for DART+ West will be available for use on South-West when its main construction works commence, which I hope to accelerate through the additional NDP funding made available in 2028 onwards.
The Department of Transport will continue to explore opportunities for additional funding, including through funding streams such as the European Union Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), to complement national Exchequer funding which may allow some projects to proceed to construction earlier than currently anticipated.
In terms of public transport services, the 2026 PSO funding allocation of €940 million represents a significant 43% uplift in the allocation from 2025. This reflects the Government’s commitment to ensuring that public transport services can continue to operate reliably and sustainably in the face of growing passenger demand and increased operational costs.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) plays a central role in achieving this, as they have 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.
The NTA, in conjunction with transport operators, continuously monitors key performance indicators, including punctuality, reliability, demand, and passenger feedback. Where necessary and feasible, routes and timetables are adjusted to help address issues like congestion and improve service performance. Recent announcements for changes to routes introduced under Phase 7 of BusConnects demonstrates the NTA’s commitment to ongoing monitoring and responsive service adjustments.
Crucially the PSO funding allocation for 2026 will also allow for the continued delivery of targeted fare initiatives, including the recently introduced free travel for all children up to the age of 9, and the Young Adult Card for those aged 19-25, as part of the NTA’s National Fares Strategy. These measures help ensure effective and high-quality public transport service provision.
Passenger numbers on public transport services have shown strong growth in recent years, with numbers trending at plus 9% in 2024 versus 2023. A significant milestone was reached in October 2024 when PSO services recorded one million journeys in a single day. It is too early in 2026 to provide a full report on 2025 usage; however, interim data indicates significant additional passenger growth. For example, Dublin Bus recorded 164 million journeys in 2025, an increase of 5 million on 2024 and the highest annual total on record. We remain fully committed to building on these positive changes and delivering a public transport system that is reliable, accessible, and affordable for everyone.
As well as significant investment in public transport and other sustainable options, my Department is finalising a new national transport strategy, ‘Moving Together’. One of the aims of this draft Strategy is to make our transport system more efficient and to facilitate greater network optimisation over time, thus helping to reduce the impacts of congestion on the economy, the environment, and public health.
By reducing congestion in our cities and towns, we will also reduce harmful emissions, and improve the air quality, safety and liveability of our urban spaces. This Strategy, which I hope to bring to Government for consideration shortly, will help to reinforce the full potential of ongoing investment in sustainable mobility alternatives, and support local effort in addressing the challenges caused by high traffic areas in our cities, such as Dublin City Council’s strides to reduce congestion as part of the Dublin City Transport Plan.
Concerning road network data, 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 in relation to traffic congestion levels in Dublin.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply on congestion levels. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
Concerning Active Travel, the Department of Transport will allocate €360 million in 2026 alone to the development and delivery of high-quality active travel and greenway schemes across the country. The four local authorities in Dublin will collectively receive €97.65 million for walking and cycling projects to encourage a move away from private car use for journeys in the local authority area.
This funding will support projects such as new cycling and walking infrastructure along North Circular Rd, the Firhouse Road Active Travel Improvement Scheme, the Broadmeadow Estuary Cycle & Pedestrian Bridge, as well as Dun Laoghaire Rathdown’s Central Active Travel Scheme, alongside many others. Nationwide approximately 1,200 active travel and greenway schemes will be supported this year.
The delivery of all these planned schemes should encourage people to leave the car behind, where possible, therefore decreasing congestion levels and improving journey times for commuters and visitors to the city centre.
Additionally, projects implemented as part of the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan, such as the pedestrianisation of Parliament Street and Capel Street have successfully demonstrated the benefit of providing safe, segregated and aesthetically pleasing areas for people to walk and spend time in car free areas.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) are responsible for the oversight of active travel projects delivered by local authorities. A key part of the planning of these projects is the implementation of traffic management measures, where possible, to minimise the disruption caused by construction works.
For more information on the NTA’s action to reduce disruption caused by construction works, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NTA for a more detailed response. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a response after 10 working days.
