Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
230. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the strategies in place to address the limited bus priority and high volume of private cars using main bus corridors in Dublin during peak hours, in light of the average network speed across Dublin Bus services falling 5% year-on-year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13495/26]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), which includes BusConnects.
The NTA published the Transport Strategy for the GDA 2022-2042 in January 2023. This strategy sets out a statutory framework for transport investment across the region over a 20-year period and provides a clear statement of transport planning policy for the GDA. There are a number of infrastructure investments which are planned or underway to support increased public transport demand across the GDA.
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 (CBC) schemes. The CBC project involves the development of continuous bus priority infrastructure and improved pedestrian and cycling facilities on key radial corridors across the Dublin region. The CBC project encompasses the delivery of approximately 230 kilometres of dedicated bus lanes and 200 kilometres of cycle tracks in 12 separate schemes across Dublin.
An Coimisiún Pleanála has approved all 12 of the BusConnects Dublin Core Bus Corridor Schemes. However, legal proceedings are ongoing in relation to six: Belfield/Blackrock, Blanchardstown, Kimmage, Swords, Templeogue/Rathfarnham and Bray schemes.
The first scheme, Liffey Valley to the City Centre, entered the construction phase in 2025, and the contract for the second, the Ballymun-Finglas to City Centre scheme, was signed in December 2025. Construction on this scheme is expected to commence in 2026.
GDATS - Transport Strategy for Greater Dublin Area
Integrated land use planning and transport planning in the five cities (Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford) is led through Metropolitan Area Transport Strategies (MATS) which set out programmes of proposed transport investment in active travel, bus and rail for each city over a 20-year period.
The revised statutory Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2022-2042 was developed by the NTA, in consultation with the relevant Local Authorities, and published in 2023 following the Minister for Transport’s approval. This strategy sets out how transport will be developed across the region, covering Dublin, Meath, Wicklow and Kildare, in accordance with the Dublin Transport Authority Act, as amended.
The Strategy has been developed to be consistent with the spatial planning policies and objectives set out in the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy as adopted by the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly. These objectives in turn are consistent with the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan as set out in Project Ireland 2040.
The next review of the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy is due to commence in 2027. Once sufficiently developed the draft Transport Strategy will be opened to full public consultation.
The statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally rests with the NTA.
The NTA works with the public transport operators, who deliver the services and who have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters. The Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options, and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal.
It is appreciated that many customers in the Dublin region have recently been experiencing some issues with regard cancellations and reliability. Bus cancellations can occur for a variety of reasons, such as a shortage of drivers or mechanics preventing services from operating to schedule. Furthermore, incidents that occur while a vehicle is in service, such as traffic accidents, health emergencies or bus breakdown can cause disruption and unforeseen delays to the published timetable.
Aside from staff availability issues, the most frequent reason for bus cancellations on these routes has been related to traffic congestion/traffic delays. Buses that are meant to reach the end of an outbound trip in sufficient time to make the return journey, frequently get held up in heavier than usual traffic congestion such that they are not in position to undertake the scheduled return journey. That journey then has to be cancelled, impacting passengers. Unfortunately, this can be frequent occurrence as traffic congestion increases.
With regards to service cancellation, the operator is required to cancel the service on the system that monitors bus locations, and which feeds the real time information system. While that generally does happen, there have been some occurrences where the relevant operator personnel did not input the cancellation in a timely manner. The NTA continues to monitor this item and to stress to operators the need for timely inputs of cancellations when they occur.
Recognising the importance of improved bus priority in the Greater Dublin Area, the National Sustainable Mobility Policy included an action to "Deliver public transport corridors providing prioritised bus lanes on national radial routes to the M50". Funding has been provided in recent years to progress measures on a number of these routes, including the M4, M11/N11 and N3, with the bus priority lane on the M4 eastbound now approaching completion.
Noting the NTA's responsibility for BusConnects Dublin, 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 working days.
