Written Answers Nos. 87-106
96. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Transport the actions that can be taken to address the frequent cancellation often at short notice of the Bus Eireann Expressway No. 2 service that links Dublin with counties Wicklow and Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34074/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThank you, Deputy Byrne, for your question.
At the outset, it is important to distinguish between publicly subvented services, which operate under contract with the National Transport Authority, and commercial services , which are operated under licence from the NTA and do not receive State subvention. The latter are primarily run by private operators; however, Bus Éireann also operates commercial services under the Expressway brand, which I believe is the focus of the Deputy's question.
The NTA is responsible for issuing licences for these commercial services. Each licence sets out specific conditions, like where the service runs from and to, what stops it makes, and the timetable it must follow.
Bus Éireann has informed us that while most Expressway routes have remained operational this year, a small number of services have unfortunately been cancelled in recent months. This has largely been down to fleet availability. I am assured they are working hard to address these issues and are closely monitoring the situation, particularly along the Dublin-Wicklow-Wexford corridor, to maintain reliability for passengers as best they can. Additionally, I have been informed of the enhancement of services on this particular route by Bus Éireann to provide more frequent and punctual travel for all Route 2 customers.
I want to reiterate that the Government is strongly committed to delivering reliable, sustainable transport options for all our citizens. Public transport is a key part of that vision, as outlined in the Programme for Government and we remain focused on delivering services people can depend on.
100. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on when the new DART carriages will be coming into service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33954/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the Preliminary Business Case for the DART+ Programme was approved by the Government at Decision Gate 1 of the Public Spending Code in December 2021. This decision permitted the purchase of new DART trains from Alstom, comprising 65 battery-electric and 30 electric carriages.
Battery-electric trains from this first fleet order started arriving into Ireland in Autumn 2024. These trains have started testing on rail track around Dublin and the safety testing will continue throughout this year. Deployment of these new carriages for passengers is expected to occur from next year on the busy Northern Commuter Line between Dublin and Drogheda. This will provide a noticeable and welcome boost to commuters along the route.
In November 2022, the Government approved a second DART fleet order from Alstom, for an additional 90 battery-electric carriages. These carriages will start arriving next year and will further boost train capacity in the Dublin area, with the precise deployment to be decided by the National Transport Authority, or NTA, and Iarnród Éireann.
In addition to the roll-out of the new DART+ Fleet, we are making good progress on the rest of the DART+ programme. A planning application for DART+ Coastal North was lodged last July, and we have received conditional and full planning approval from An Bord Pleanála for DART+ West and South West, respectively. Procurement is now advancing on the DART+ West and South West projects, ahead of planned construction in the coming years.
I look forward to working with Iarnród Éireann and the NTA to progress the DART+ Programme, covering new carriages, infrastructure and services. This will have huge benefits for rail passengers and the public in the wider Dublin area, doubling the city centre rail capacity and providing for a more accessible, efficient and sustainable public transport service.
104. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport if his Department is considering allocating further funding for the upgrade of the stretch of the N25 national road between Carrigtwohill and Youghal in east Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33945/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to thank the Deputy for his question.
The Government has earmarked approximately €5.1 billion for investment in new national roads projects between 2021 and 2030. While the greater portion of this funding becomes available in the second half of the decade, I can confirm that approximately €600 million of exchequer capital funds was provided to local authorities through TII for national roads in 2025. Of this, approximately €74 million was allocated for Cork City and County.
There are two road projects on the N25 between Carrigtwohill and Youghal. The Midleton to Youghal project has received an allocation of €700,000 for 2025. I understand that Cork County Council will be appointing technical advisors in the next quarter who will take the scheme through the route selection phase, detailed design and the statutory processes. While the N25 Carrigtwohill to Midleton project did not receive an allocation for 2025, it is anticipated that it could be funded in 2026, subject to the outcome of the ongoing review of the NDP. It is also important to note that the Programme for Government contains a commitment to increase funding for new roads and the maintenance of existing roads as part of the NDP review
With regard to the future progression of both projects, the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation are leading the review of the NDP, and work is ongoing within my Department to contribute to this review, with input from TII and other agencies. The review of the NDP will be aligned with the National Planning Framework and Project Ireland 2040 and is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. Funding commitments for roads such as the N25 for 2026 and beyond are currently under consideration as part of this review.
105. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport the improvements planned in 2025 to ensure greater and more seamless access to public transport for those with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33746/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI know that for disabled people being able to make seamless journeys in accessible environments and on public transport are critical to their daily lives and active participation in society. Ensuring they have 'access of choice' and are empowered to access education, employment, health services and recreational activities on the same basis as everyone else is paramount.
During 2025, we are making public transport more accessible for disabled people, by firstly ensuring new services, facilities and infrastructure are accessible from the design stage. This means that, for example, new services under Bus Connects and the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan use accessible buses.
However, the real challenge is our older infrastructure, which is why we have allocated increased funding in 2025 to retrofit such legacy infrastructure. The 2025 allocation of €25m for the Public Transport Retrofit Programme is a 67% increase over the 2024 allocation. During 2025, the Programme is funding accessibility improvements in bus and train stations, the installation of accessible bus stops in rural and regional areas, the installation of accessible bus bays and the allocation of grant funding for more wheelchair accessible taxis. For example, funding under this Programme has contributed to the increase in wheelchair accessible taxis from 4% in 2024 to 25% in 2025.
It is also important to provide supports for disabled people, including those with hidden disabilities, to travel independently on public transport. During 2025, in line with the Programme for Government, our agencies will continue to provide Disability Awareness Training to front-line staff, and continue to promote the Just A Minute (JAM) card for those with communications difficulties. The NTA is also planning the expansion of the Independent Travel Support scheme, previously called the Travel Assist Scheme, to more regional areas following on from its success in the cities and its introduction in Galway in January 2025.
106. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the development of a map displaying all public transport services, nationally and regionally, including a print version as well as an online, digital version; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34001/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, my role involves setting public transport policy and overseeing overall funding. However, I am not involved in day-to-day operations. The statutory responsibility for delivering and managing public transport services, including the publication and maintenance of network maps, rests with the National Transport Authority (NTA).
I have been informed by the NTA that they have developed a wide range of network maps that cover the public transport network, which they have published on the Transport for Ireland/TFI website.
These maps include a TFI Regional Public Transport map that displays regional bus routes, rail lines, train stations, airports, ferry ports and also included points of interest across Ireland. They have developed six city network maps covering Dublin, Cork Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Kilkenny, including the different bus and train routes for each city.
There are also maps summarising town bus services available in Cavan, Navan and Drogheda as well as Portlaoise Clonmel and Sligo areas.
I have also been advised that members of the public can obtain digital maps for individual journeys on the TFI website. These can be accessed on the journey planner section of the website by inputting the preferred route number.
The NTA have confirmed to my Department that they are currently working on an updated version of their network maps with regard public transport and hope to be in a position to publish them in the coming months.
The use of these public transport network maps forms a key part of transport planning, and work in line with the Programme for Government commitment for the improvement of transport networks countrywide, to promote increased business investment in the economy and the supply of new housing.
