Written Answers Nos. 62-81
62. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the introduction of enforcement cameras at traffic lights, bus lanes, bus gates and other locations where widespread Garda enforcement of road traffic laws is not viable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67311/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits to further expansion of cameras to encourage safer driving, with explicit reference to mobile phone use and non-wearing of seatbelts. This commitment is reaffirmed by Primary Action 6 in the Phase 2 Action Plan of the Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030.
The framework for this future roll-out will be guided by the first National Safety Camera Strategy, the development of which has been led by Transport Infrastructure Ireland in partnership with all key road safety agencies and departments.
The Strategy is focused on speeding, red light running and bus lane violations in the first instance but has been designed to accommodate other offences over time. Work on the Strategy is at an advanced stage and it is expected to be completed shortly.
With regard to the specific traffic management-type cameras referenced by the Deputy, the National Transport Authority continues to work with An Garda Síochána and Dublin City Council on the deployment of traffic management cameras within Dublin and aims to have a number of sites operational in Dublin in the near future.
In addition, Dublin City Council announced in October that it is working with Irish Rail and An Garda Síochána on the installation of a traffic camera which detects cars running red lights at the Merrion Gates.
63. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport to provide an overview of the performance of the Route S4 for the past twelve months, detailing the number of journeys cancelled as a proportion of overall journeys. [67320/25]
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 this case Go Ahead.
In terms of the performance of public transport operators, this is monitored by the NTA as part of the contractual arrangements in place between it and the operators. These contractual arrangements allow for not just the monitoring of performance by the NTA and the publication by it of annual performance reports, but importantly, the contracts also allow for the imposition of financial penalties where performance does not meet the required standard.
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.
64. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Transport to carry out a review of the dispatch operator licensing system; to introduce an amendment or regulation clearly prohibiting fares below the taximeter; and to introduce stronger rules ensuring fare parity, transparency, and protection of driver incomes. [67341/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including setting fares and licensing dispatch operators, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. I have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV sector.
Given the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have referred your question to the NTA for further information. Please advise my private office if you have not received a reply within 10 working days.
65. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport when a driving licence exchange application will be completed (details supplied), in view that it is over 10 weeks since the application was submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67342/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I wish to advise that all enquiries relating to driver licensing are handled by the National Driver Licence Service, the provision of which I have delegated under national legislation to the Road Safety Authority.
I have referred this matter to the Authority for direct reply. Please contact my office if you have not received a reply within ten days.
66. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the current plans and timelines for upgrading junctions 5 and 6 on the M1 at Balbriggan, in view of their strategic importance for regional development and employment creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67345/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra68. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if he will assess the implications of An Bord Pleanála’s decision (details supplied) to grant permission for development at Junction 5, despite concerns raised by Transport Infrastructure Ireland regarding junction capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67347/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra69. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the way in which investment in Junctions 5 and 6 on the M1 and associated infrastructure upgrades will be prioritised to support the objectives of the Dublin–Belfast Economic Corridor and balanced regional development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67349/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 66, 68 and 69 together.
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 junctions 5 and 6 on the M1.
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.
67. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has engaged with Transport Infrastructure Ireland regarding capacity constraints at Junctions 5 and 6 on the M1; if he will provide details of any discussions or agreements on funding or delivery of upgrade works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67346/25]
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 in relation to this.
There has been no engagement between my Department and TII regarding any issues or upgrade works at Junctions 5 and 6 on the M1.
70. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the number of services scheduled on a route per month (details supplied), the number of services cancelled, per month, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67367/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra71. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the identification of adjustments to a route timetable (details provided); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67368/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra72. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the punctuality of a route (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67369/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 70, 71 and 72 together.
As 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 Dublin Bus. 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.
73. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Transport the strategies in place to ensure bus and LUAS services in the greater Dublin area are scaled appropriately to accommodate projected population growth. [67396/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra75. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Transport the infrastructure investments which are planned or underway to support increased public transport demand arising from population growth in Dublin suburbs and surrounding areas. [67398/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra77. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Transport the integration of bus and LUAS services in expanding suburban areas, including plans for new routes, extensions or feeder service enhancements. [67400/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra79. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Transport if there are planned policy or funding adjustments aimed at addressing capacity challenges caused by rapid population increases in the Dublin suburban areas. [67402/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 73, 75, 77 and 79 together.
As 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 MetroLink, BusConnects, Luas and DART.
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 will be aware, MetroLink will be a fully segregated and mostly underground new railway line between Swords and Dublin City Centre, the first of its kind in Ireland. It is a key project under the National Development Plan. MetroLink will be able to carry a peak capacity of 20,000 passengers per hour per direction in the future.
A significant milestone in the progression of the MetroLink project was cleared in July 2022, when the Minister for Transport secured approval for the project from the Cabinet under Decision Gate 1 of the then-Public Spending Code. This approval enabled the project to move to the planning application stage, and in September 2022 Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) submitted a Railway Order application to An Coimisiún Pleanála.
An Coimisiún Pleanála held an Oral Hearing in relation to MetroLink in February/March 2024. TII engaged constructively with all parties as part of the Oral Hearing. Following the Oral Hearing, An Coimisiún Pleanála held an additional round of public consultation from 19th August to 8th October 2024. An Coimisiún Pleanála published its decision to grant the MetroLink Railway Order on 2nd October 2025.
A Detailed Project Brief and Procurement Strategy will be prepared for consideration at Approval Gate 2, in line with the Infrastructure Guidelines, assuming no successful legal challenge to An Coimisiún Pleanála's decision.
Dependent on the outcome of the planning process, construction of MetroLink is earmarked to commence over the coming years with a view to operation in the 2030s.
BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in the bus system in Ireland, providing better bus services across five cities: Dublin, Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick. It is the largest investment in the bus system in the history of the state and is managed by the NTA. The aim of the network is to improve the existing Transport for Ireland system through enhanced services with high frequency spines and new local, Orbital and Radial routes.
In relation to BusConnects Dublin, the first seven phases of new bus routes as part of the bus network redesign have rolled out since 2021. The NTA rolled out F-Spine (Finglas to Tallaght) in October 2025. This roll-out will continue incrementally, subject to operation readiness and funding availability.
The key infrastructure complement on BusConnects Dublin are the Core Bus Corridors Schemes. The completion of these schemes will see the construction of approximately 230km of designated bus lanes and 200km of cycle lanes. An Coimisiún Pleanála has approved all 12 Core Bus Corridor planning applications. However, legal proceedings are ongoing in relation to seven schemes.
The NTA awarded the construction contract for the first such scheme, Liffey Valley to City Centre, in July 2025, with construction to begin in December of this year. In October, Government approved the second scheme, Ballymun-Finglas to City Centre, which is expected to enter construction in 2026.
In relation to Luas, in October 2024, the Government gave its consent to the Luas Finglas project at Approval Gate 1 in line with the Infrastructure Guidelines. This has allowed the project to enter the statutory planning process. TII submitted a Railway Order Application to An Bord Pleanála in November 2024. Public submissions closed on 20 January 2025.
An Coimisiún Pleanála published its decision to grant the Luas Finglas Railway Order in October 2025. The project will now move toward procurement, assuming there are no successful legal challenges to An Coimisiún Pleanála’s decision.
The DART+ programme comprises five different projects in and around the GDA, extending the existing network from the City Centre to Maynooth, M3 Parkway, Hazelhatch & Celbridge and Drogheda, and will improve current DART services from the City Centre to Greystones. The programme will triple the length of the electrified network and will double city centre capacity from 26,000 passengers per hour per direction to 52,000 during peak hours. An Coimisiún Pleanála granted conditional planning approval for DART+ West in July 2024, and full planning approval for DART+ South West (November 2024) and DART+ Costal North (August 2025). There is also an ongoing Judicial Review in relation to DART+ Coastal North. The first order for the purchase of 95 additional DART carriages (largely battery-electric with some electric units) 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/from Drogheda from 2027. Following the initial deployment of new battery-electric carriages on the Northern line, the NTA also plans to extend the DART to Wicklow using battery technology.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
74. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Transport the way in which the National Transport Authority coordinates with Dublin Bus and LUAS operators to plan service capacity expansions and network adjustments in response to urban development and demographic changes. [67397/25]
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 this case, Dublin Bus and Luas. In addition, the NTA has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).
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.
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.
76. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Transport the way in which emerging technologies and data analytics are being utilised to optimise service scheduling and fleet management in the context of a growing population. [67399/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 infrastructure, including the development of related technology systems.
The NTA awarded a contract to implement and support a National Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) system for all Public Service Obligation (PSO) buses to Trapeze in December 2023. The upgrade will improve the quality of bus service operations and the timeliness and the quality of real time bus service information.
This will enable to the NTA to consolidate several existing bus AVL systems into one central system to be used by all PSO bus operators in Ireland and has expansion capacity to meet the growing demand for public transport in Ireland. The migration to this upgraded system is expected to take place across the coming years.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
78. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Transport the way in which long-term demographic forecasting is incorporated into transport planning to ensure sustainable and efficient public transport services over the next decade. [67401/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority, or NTA, has responsibility for transport planning in the Greater Dublin Area and our Regional Cities, and prepares a series of multimodal transport strategies, covering the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy as well as the Metropolitan Area Transport Strategies for Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. These strategies take account of future demographic and population changes and use data including population projections from the Central Statistics Office to inform them.
In light of the NTA responsibilities in these matters, I have referred your question to the NTA for a direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
80. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport the number of incidences of passengers travelling with no tickets on Irish Rail trains in the past 3 years; the number of fines issued by the rail line, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67403/25]
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 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.
81. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport his views that there is a necessity for ticket inspectors onboard trains given tickets are scanned at departure gates and exit gates in most cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67404/25]
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 query raised by the Deputy and fare revenue protection 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.
