Written Answers Nos. 105-120
105. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport if he will acknowledge the need for additional rural bus services in Counties Carlow and Kilkenny; if he has a plan to address the limitations of the current rural bus services for people living in Carlow and Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51826/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport, I would like to reaffirm this Government's recognition of the distinct needs and opportunities of communities across rural Ireland, that must be at the heart of decision-making.
In recent years under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, the NTA have been focusing on both facilitating access to local services and enhancing connectivity to an expanded regional network that links cities and regional centres across Ireland.
As part of this plan, the Route 897 between Kilkenny and Athy was implemented in late 2023. The service continued to grow and in 2024 the service was enhanced to include a new evening service from Thursday to Saturday between Kilkenny City and Moneenroe.
Funding for Rural Transport in Counties Carlow, Kilkenny and Wicklow has increased by 46% between 2023 and 2024, to over €3.5m. Passenger numbers on regular, timetabled services on routes in these counties also increased by 61% from 2023 to 2024.
This funding has also enabled the introduction of new routes such as Route 887 connecting Carlow to New Ross, which provides late evening services and ensures improved connectivity to the South East Technological University campus.
Earlier this year the new Route 891 between Fiddown and Kilkenny was introduced. This is the first ever service connecting Southwest Kilkenny and Carrick on Suir to Kilkenny City.
I firmly support the continued expansion of rural transport in line with recent commitments in the Programme for Government, and the Deputy can be assured that this will be a consideration in the upcoming Budget 2026 discussions.
106. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the steps he will take to ensure that there are no disimprovements to bus services as a result of the launch of Phase 7 of Bus Connects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51683/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for his question and like him I welcome the largest ever investment in our bus network and services, which is what we are delivering under BusConnects Dublin and what will be delivered under BusConnects in each of the four other cities as well.
This is a transformational step change in the way bus services are delivered in Ireland and one that has been subject to the one of the most extensive public consultations ever. But it is a transformation, not a continuation of business as usual, and services are changing, bus fleets are changing and ticketing and infrastructure will change as part of it too.
The good news is that the people using this improved bus system are responding positively to that transformation, numbers on the new BusConnects services are well ahead of the older services as improved frequency and new routes provides better connections than ever before.
The launch of Phase 7 of the BusConnects Dublin Network Redesign next month is another significant milestone in the delivery of the wider BusConnects programme. This new F-Spine will connect Finglas and Tallaght through the City Centre, and will continue the positive progress seen elsewhere. I am confident that the new F-Spine will benefit people in the City Centre and suburbs across its route including in Ballymun, Finglas, Glasnevin, Marino, Broombridge, Kimmage, Walkinstown, Templeogue, Rathmines and Tallaght. The implementation of these changes will be closely monitored by the NTA, in co-operation with the operators, to ensure the roll-out brings with it the benefits assumed and I can assure the Deputy that I will keep in close contact with the NTA on the matter.
The roll-out of the remaining phases of the BusConnects Dublin Network Redesign will occur over the coming years, subject to funding and operational readiness. I look forward to his support as we continue delivery of the BusConnects programme.
108. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport if he will acknowledge the need for additional rail services from Dublin to Carlow and Kilkenny, if he has a plan to address the limitations of the current service for people living in Carlow and Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51825/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the Deputy's query, I understand that the National Transport Authority, or NTA, has an aspiration to provide an all-day train service of every two hours between Kilkenny and Dublin, with additional train services during the peak, and an hourly service between Dublin and Carlow. This would build on the rail service improvements of recent years.
From an infrastructure perspective, delivery of this aspiration is dependent on whether there is sufficient track capacity and rail fleet. The service frequency would also require Public Service Obligation funding, which is determined as part of the annual budgetary process.
At present, there are insufficient train carriages available on the rail network to provide for a significant increase in service frequency to Carlow and Kilkenny. Currently all of the Iarnród Éireann fleet is deployed across the network during the peak periods. However, the entry into service of new battery-electric DART trains around Dublin over the next few years will free up existing train fleet availability across the network.
Hence I would expect extra train carriages to become available before the end of the decade, boosting services across the county. Some of these carriages could be deployed between Dublin and Kilkenny and Carlow, following an NTA review. This would enable an increase in the rail services for the people of Carlow and Kilkenny, which would be welcomed.
Looking further ahead, the All-Island Strategic Rail Review published last year recommended an upgrade in track capacity for Kilkenny and Carlow. Assisted by the European Investment Bank (EIB) Advisory Services, my Department is working with other key stakeholders on a Project Prioritisation Strategy, which considers how best to optimise the Review's recommendations, including for Carlow and Kilkenny. This Strategy is planned for publication later this year, reflecting my ambitions to continually improve public transport for the people of Ireland.
109. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Transport if the N81 will be upgraded, having never been so previously. [51678/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to thank the Deputy for his question as I know that this road is of particular interest to him.
It is for the local authority, as the statutory roads authority, in the first instance, to engage with TII regarding the progression of any proposed national road project.
However it is important to point out that a number of interventions have been funded on the N81 in recent years, including pavement resurfacing works in a number of locations and a road realignment scheme at Knockroe Bends south of Blessington.
Furthermore, a number of road safety interventions on the N81 have received funding allocations this year. This includes an allocation of €400,000 for a realignment of the section of the N81 at Hangman’s Bend, near Stratford-on-Slaney. Technical advisors have been appointed to develop this scheme through a planning application.
Funding has also been allocated to provide traffic calming measures on the N81 adjacent to Hollywood village with the construction contract awarded on 1 July 2025, as well as for smaller safety interventions at Blessington and Baltinglass. Works at Hollywood are underway and will include a new bus stop, improving safety for public transport users.
In addition, Wicklow County Council is procuring contractors to undertake localised resurfacing of sections of the N81 to address poor road surfaces or areas of substandard skidding resistance.
Finally, the funding provided to Wicklow County Council for regional and local roads in 2025 included an allocation for the northern section of the Blessington Inner Relief Road which would assist with traffic flow in the Blessington area, including on the N81.
I hope this information is of assistance to you.
110. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Transport the number of routes and passenger journeys per year operated by Bus Éireann services in Cork from 2020 to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51555/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in day-to-day operational matters of public transport operators. The responsibility for the operation of the services and the issues raised are a matter for Bus Éireann itself.
Bus Éireann operates its Public Service Obligation routes in Cork, as part of its Direct Award Contract with the National Transport Authority. This contract sets out the level of service Bus Éireann provides as well as the number of routes. In addition to this, the National Transport Authority determines the schedule, frequency, fleet and fares on each of the routes.
I understand from Bus Éireann that it has shown exceptional growth on its Cork services, with passenger journeys rising from over 7.5m in 2020, which were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, to an average of over 16 million each year since 2023, with numbers on track to see a similar trajectory to the end of 2025.
This year, the network in Cork has expanded from 42 to 43 routes, continuing to meet the growing demand for reliable and sustainable public transport. The new Route 31 adds services from Knockraha to Parnell Place, providing additional connectivity to those locations. Bus Éireann has also enhanced the Route 214 service this year, to ensure a more punctual service is delivered.
Looking ahead, Bus Éireann remains committed to delivering even more accessible, high-quality services for the people of Cork in partnership with the NTA.
111. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline his plans to improve disability access on public transport in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51784/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI'm pleased to say that yesterday I met with members of the disability sector for a constructive dialogue around our shared ambition to ensure 100% transport accessibility in Ireland.
The Government launched the National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People on 3rd September 2025. In line with the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or the UN CRPD, the strategy puts great importance on engagement with disabled people. Pillar 5 of the strategy, 'Transport and Mobility' contains a number of transport priority actions, which I am proud to say will be led by my Department, and also align with the new Sustainable Mobility Policy Action Plan beginning next year and wider Programme for Government commitments.
I believe that only by engaging with those who have lived experience of disability can we truly remove the barriers they face daily. That’s why I really welcomed the opportunity to hear views on transport accessibility and the new strategy’s actions. It was a valuable and rewarding exchange with Disabled Person Organisations, service providers, Disability User Groups, and board representatives from transport operators.
In short, I want disabled people, whether they live in Dublin or rural areas, to have the same ‘access of choice’ transport options as everyone else.
There are two aspects to improving accessibility on the network - addressing legacy infrastructure deficits and then ensuring a universal design approach toward all new infrastructure.
On that first aspect we have increased funding under the accessibility retrofit programme by 67% this year as compared to last and will maintain that increased level of funding under the new NDP. On the second aspect 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 inclusive transport network in the years ahead.
112. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Transport the plans and measures considered and implemented by publicly funded public transport operators when it becomes clear that there is a lack of services on a particular route to meet demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51818/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 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.
113. Deputy David Maxwell asked the Minister for Transport the specific steps his Department is undertaking to ensure that the National Train Control Centre project is delivered in a timely and cost-effective manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51581/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the National Train Control Centre or NTCC project is designed to deliver a modern, safe and efficient national train control system that can effectively meet the needs of a growing railway over the coming decades.
There are a number monitoring and reporting procedures that my Department has in place to review the progress of the NTCC, as I will outline.
The Sponsoring Agency which delivers the NTCC is Iarnród Éireann, and the day-to-day Approving Authority is the NTA, which provides independent challenge to Iarnród Éireann in its delivery of the project. The specific responsibilities of both the Sponsoring Agency and the Approving Authority are set out in the Infrastructure Guidelines.
In addition, my Department meets monthly with the NTA to review all major public transport projects, including the NTCC, and it is assisted in that regard by NewERA, external experts with professional infrastructure experience, and through JASPERS which is an EU agency that provides Member States with advice on infrastructure development.
The NTCC building was completed in November 2022, but bringing it into operation has been delayed due to complexities associated with the roll-out of the Traffic Management System or TMS, which is the software system that integrates a range of railway systems such as signalling and communications.
As a result, I recently met with the NTA and the contractor, Indra Sistemas, who are responsible for the TMS project. At the meeting, I noted my dissatisfaction at the rate of progress with the TMS and emphasised the importance of project delivery.
More broadly, I will continue to keep the NTCC project under close review, with a view to it bringing its benefits to railways users as soon as feasible.
114. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport the progress on the Dart+ project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51873/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
The DART+ Programme aims to modernise and improve existing rail services in the GDA, by increasing the electrified network for circa 50km to 150km and doubling city centre capacity during peak hours.
The DART+ Programme, which was approved in principle by Government in 2021, will involve the extension of DART services in the Greater Dublin Area as far as M3 Parkway, Maynooth, Hazelhatch and Drogheda, and will also provide an improvement on the existing DART line south of Dublin City. It is also planned to extend the existing DART fleet through a ten-year procurement framework for electric and battery-electric train fleet.
We received positive news in August that a Railway Order for DART+ Costal North was approved by An Coimisiún Pleanála. The Railway Order for DART+ South West was approved by An Coimisiún Pleanála in November 2024, and conditional approval for DART+ West was granted in July 2024.
Procurement for DART+ South West and Dart+ West is also progressing, with pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQ) notices for Design and Build works advertised in May.
The first order for the purchase of 95 additional DART carriages, which compromise of 65 battery-electric carriages and 30 electric carriages, have started arriving and are currently undergoing certification and safety testing. It is intended that the new battery-electric sets will be initially deployed on the Northern Commuter Line serving Dublin to and from Drogheda.
I look forward to progressing these projects as we strive to improve the rail network for passengers and wider society during the term of this Government.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
115. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport for an update on additional safety measures and traffic management measures being considered on the N25 between Carrigtwohill and Midleton and the Lakeview Roundabout in east Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51553/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
The N25 Carrigtwohill to Midleton scheme is among those projects listed for development in the NDP. Having regard to the available funding, it was not possible to provide an allocation to this project in 2025. However, €700,000 was provided for the N25 Midleton to Youghal Scheme which would included bypasses of the villages of Castlemartyr and Killeagh.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply in relation to the N25 between Carrigtwohill and Midleton and the Lakeview Roundabout. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
116. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the research carried out by his Department into the merit of promoting the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil fuel for transport to support a reduction in emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51123/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I am committed to supporting the decarbonisation of the Transport sector with an overall goal to shift to a Zero Emission Transport Sector.
Renewable transport fuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) are an important transition measure in transport decarbonisation in the coming years as the shift to electrification and further increases in public transport and active travel are fully realised. Sustainable renewable transport fuels provide immediate climate-change mitigation utilising the existing vehicle fleet.
Specific to Heavy Duty Vehicles my Department is finalising a study on HVO use in the sector which seeks to measure the volume of HVO currently used, likely future availability and price, decarbonisation potential and the feasibility of policy interventions to increase the use of HVO which would not risk a delay to the ultimate trajectory for the transition to zero emission HDV fleets.
The interim results of the study were presented at a meeting of the Road Freight Forum on 14 May and the final draft of the report is currently being reviewed by Department officials. The report will be published to gov.ie in the coming weeks.
A study concerning the hierarchy of use of HVO across transport and other sectors has also been recently commissioned. The rationale for the study is to ensure that State intervention through obligations and related incentives are aligned to the most efficient use of HVO across all transport modes, relative to available renewable energy alternatives across these transport modes and to demand for HVO use in non-transport sectors, within the context Climate Action Plan and European regulatory targets and requirements to 2030 and beyond.
External consultants have been engaged to conduct this study which is expected to be completed in 2026. The output of this study will inform Department policy and plans, addressing concerns raised by the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) in its 2025 Annual Review of Transport, which recommends a coherent plan for the most efficient use of sustainable biofuels across all sectors to be developed by the Department of Transport and Department of the Climate, Energy and the Environment.
117. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether weekend bus timetables should differ from weekday schedules, in particular whether more frequent services should operate on Saturdays to reflect higher passenger demand on certain routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50983/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 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.
118. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport if he will expedite the delivery of a new roadway and footpaths through Cahersiveen town on the N70 Ring of Kerry road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51824/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply regarding the N70 in Cahersiveen. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
120. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport if he will end the mandatory retirement age of 70 for Bus Éireann drivers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51708/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. It is the individual transport companies, for example Bus Éireann, which have responsibility for operational and employment matters.
From a policy perspective the Programme for Government (PfG) has committed to "Work to enhance and support the delivery of a skilled workforce to maintain and operate public transport vehicles".
My Department chairs the Public Transport Workforce Taskforce which aims to progress this PfG commitment and to identify options to assist with resolving challenges regarding the recruitment of drivers and mechanics/craftworkers. The taskforce includes representatives from the school transport section in the Department of Education, relevant agencies and transport operators including Bus Éireann, and training bodies.
The aim of the taskforce is to work collaboratively to identify contributing factors to the recruitment issues, and put forward an action plan with recommendations and measures to create a pipeline of workers to address these wider issues. Officials in my department will also continue to engage with other stakeholders, including the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, during the preparation of the action plan.
In line with this work, the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment signed regulations on 11 April 2025 extending the general employment permit quotas for HGV/Bus mechanics and vehicle repairers, increasing the total number of quotas available for these roles by 200 permits.
As operational decisions, including retirement ages of drivers, are a matter for Bus Éireann, 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.
