Written Answers Nos. 189-202
189. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport his views on the merits of requiring parallel, segregated cycle routes to run alongside DART and Luas infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38635/26]
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.
Integrating parallel, segregated cycle routes alongside Dublin’s DART and Luas infrastructure has been a primary focus of the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy. The Strategy has been designed by the NTA to guide multi-modal transport infrastructure across Dublin, Meath, Wicklow and Kildare.
Noting the role of the NTA in the matter, I have referred your question to that agency for a more detailed. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days, please contact my private office.
190. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding any engagement his Department has with the Department of Finance in relation to the administration of the bike-to-work scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38636/26]
View answerMy Department is continuously exploring ways to encourage the uptake of cycling as a mode of transport. Our National Sustainable Mobility Policy examines the different behavioural change measures that can be explored to promote modal shift away from private car use and towards zero-emission transport modes such as walking, cycling and e-biking.
While my Department welcomed the introduction of an increase in the Bike-to-Work scheme thresholds in recent Budgets to encourage uptake of e-bike and cargo e-bikes, it is noted that this scheme is only available to those who are currently in employment and cannot be availed of by, for example, students, retirees or those outside employment.
My Department is therefore continuing to undertake research into other additional measures which could be introduced to promote modal shift and encourage uptake of cycling across all demographics as part of the annual Budgetary process. Potential schemes such as grants, tax reliefs or similar schemes will be considered and discussed with relevant stakeholders including the Department of Finance as part of this process.
191. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding promised additional roads funding for Wicklow County Council to repair roads damaged by Storm Chandra. [38660/26]
View answer192. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding promised additional roads funding for Wexford County Council to repair roads damaged by Storm Chandra. [38661/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together.
My Department has liaised with those local authorities affected by Storm Chandra on damage caused and remediation needed and is now looking at means to address it.
In accordance with Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, as amended, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority. Work on such roads is funded from Councils' own resources, supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of work to be funded is a matter for local authorities.
For 2026, €718 million has been allocated, through State road grants, for the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, with approximately 90% of this funding allocated to road maintenance and renewal.
All funding available through the 2026 Regional and Local Road Grant Programme was allocated to local authorities in February this year. Such allocations should supplement realistic contributions from local authorities’ own resources.
Local authorities are advised to set aside a contingency, from Department allocations and its own resources, for severe weather events.
193. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding repair works on the N20 Mallow to Cork road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38681/26]
View answerAs 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 the N20 Mallow to Cork road.
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.
194. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport whether an accessibility and equality assessment has been carried out in respect of the proposed interchange arrangements at Howth Junction under the DART+ Coastal North proposals, particularly regarding the potential impact on wheelchair users, older persons and parents with buggies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38684/26]
View answer195. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport the engagement his Department has had with Iarnród Éireann regarding concerns raised by residents and commuters about the proposed reduction in direct DART connectivity between Howth and Dublin city centre under the DART+ Coastal North project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38685/26]
View answer199. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport whether additional public consultation or stakeholder engagement is planned in relation to the DART+ Coastal North proposals affecting communities in Dublin Bay North; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38689/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 194, 195 and 199 together.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the provision of public transport infrastructure and services within the Greater Dublin Area. In the case of the DART+ programme, the NTA fulfils this statutory remit in collaboration with Iarnród Éireann.
In light of the above, I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
Pending this more detailed response, I note that accessibility has been considered at every step of the DART+ programme. As one example, the new DART+ Fleet will offer enhanced accessibility with each low-height doorway equipped with an automatic retractable step, offering the potential for unassisted level access from suitable platforms. Platform enhancements are also planned.
With regard to public consultation on DART+ Coastal North, Iarnród Éireann has carried out a robust public consultation process. Three main opportunities having been provided for customers, residents, and businesses adjacent to the route, as well as other stakeholders, to provide feedback to the scheme development and Railway Order approval process.
Finally, with regard to service frequency and capacity, the DART+ programme will double city centre capacity from 26,000 passengers per hour per direction to 52,000 during peak hours.
196. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport the measures being taken by his Department, in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann and An Garda Síochána, to address ongoing antisocial behaviour and passenger safety concerns at DART stations in north Dublin including Howth Junction, Clongriffin and Bayside; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38686/26]
View answerAnti-social behaviour is a broad societal issue, to which public transport is unfortunately not immune, and it is those passengers and staff who regularly use and work within our public transport network who are most directly impacted by any safety or security incidents that may occur on the network.
Across the network, all public transport operators are continuing to expend significant resources introducing measures to counter the impact of antisocial behaviour.
Iarnód Éireann has established enhanced joint protocols with Gardaí both nationally and locally, which have been implemented through Operation Fanacht. This has included the establishment of rapid response support hubs in 20 locations for Intercity services, with staff having direct lines to Gardaí for incident support.
All onboard staff have dedicated phone numbers for each of the hub locations in the event they require assistance, meaning that should on-board staff request assistance by calling ahead to the next Garda Rapid Response Hub, they will receive priority service to deal with any issue. Additionally, for Intercity services, there are 1448 cameras and 138 cab cameras, with a dedicated monitoring team in place.
Bus Éireann has invested in extensive CCTV coverage throughout its fleet for the protection of passengers and staff and driver security screens are fitted to the entire low-floor, single-deck, and double-deck bus fleet. All hubs are also monitored by CCTV.
Dublin Bus has maintained its Safer Journeys Team, a mobile unit dedicated to enhancing safety on-board their fleet, covering North Dublin, South Dublin, and Central Dublin. The entire Dublin Bus fleet is fully fitted with CCTV cameras with up to eleven internal cameras and three external cameras fitted on the more modern vehicles in the fleet. Each vehicle is also equipped with a radio which facilitates immediate contact to a Central Control Centre. In cases of serious incidents on board a bus, central control co-ordinate with emergency services, such as the Gardaí and Ambulance Services, if required. Security screens are provided on all vehicles for driver safety and should always be utilised for maximum protection. There are also emergency "audible alarms" in place onboard all Dublin Bus Vehicles which can be activated by driver and Emergency "silent alarms" which can be activated by driver to contact Central Control and takes priority over all other calls.
All operators continue to have strong relationships with An Garda Síochána, who ultimately assist in supporting these incidences. The NTA organises an Anti-Social Behaviour Forum, which public transport operators and An Garda Síochána attend.
The Department of Transport continues to work closely with industry stakeholders to identify measures to improve passenger safety across the public transport network. And in this regard we have continued to hold a public transport safety working group, with representatives from the public transport operators, the commercial bus sector, the NTA, unions, An Garda Síochána, the Department of Justice, and passenger representative groups.
We will continue to engage with operators and unions on the matter, and will continue to work with all stakeholders to provide safe, sustainable public transport.
In addition, my Department and the NTA are actively progressing the policy and legislative proposals required to deliver on the Government’s commitment to establish a Transport Security Force, and the introduction of this Force will require the development of primary legislation, which can have a significant lead time, but it will be expedited, with a view to making progress on its foundations during 2026.
I fully support all the ongoing positive work to progress towards creating a safer public transport network for staff and passengers. In the meantime, we are committed to delivering a safe and secure public transport system, and we will maintain momentum on all fronts until the Transport Security Force is in place.
197. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport the actions being taken to improve lift reliability and accessibility infrastructure at DART stations in north Dublin, including Howth Junction and Clongriffin, in light of repeated reports of outages and access difficulties for passengers with mobility needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38687/26]
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 Irish Rail, who have responsibility for day-to-day operational issues, to progressively make public transport accessible.
As queries relating to the accessibility of rail services and train stations, including lifts and infrastructure, are a matter for Irish Rail in the first instance. I have referred your question to the company for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
198. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has engaged with Iarnród Éireann regarding the operation of DART service frequencies on bank holidays, particularly in light of commuter demand and increased visitor travel during such periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38688/26]
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 query raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann. 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.
200. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the extended waiting times of up to 70 minutes at Manulla Junction for passengers on the 7:28 a.m. Castlebar to Ballina service; the reason for the current timetable configuration which requires passengers to wait for the Athlone service; and if he will request Irish Rail to review this arrangement with a view to reducing delays and ensuring a fit-for-purpose peak-time commuter service. [38699/26]
View answer201. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport whether an assessment was carried out regarding the impact of the introduction of the early morning Athlone rail service on existing Castlebar to Ballina passengers; if these service changes were communicated in advance to affected commuters; and if he will outline steps being taken by Irish Rail to address the negative consequences reported by daily commuters. [38700/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together.
As Minister of State, I have responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports; 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 Iarnród Éireann. 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.
202. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if he will request the National Transport Authority and Irish Rail to conduct an urgent review of early morning public transport provision between Castlebar and Ballina, including both rail and bus services; and if he will outline any plans to improve frequency, reliability and co-ordination of services to meet peak commuter demand. [38701/26]
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 Irish Rail and Bus Éireann.
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.
