Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
325. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport the key measures taken to support and develop bus services during 2025; his priorities for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73573/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra326. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport the key measures taken to support and develop rail services during 2025; his priorities for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73574/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra328. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Transport the key measures taken to support affordability in public transport during 2025; his priorities for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73576/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 325, 326 and 328 together.
My Department is responsible for implementing a wide range of commitments in the Programme for Government: Securing Our Future and plays a crucial role in supporting other cross-government commitments. We continue to make steady progress in our ambitious infrastructure and service delivery plans. I wish to reassure the Deputy that improving the accessibility, reliability, and affordability of public transport, while ensuring the system remains well-funded and responsive to passenger needs, is a core priority under the Programme for Government.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) plays a central role in achieving this, as they have 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.
As Minister for Transport, my Department sets the overall policy direction and funding framework for the delivery of public transport services nationwide. The 2026 PSO funding allocation of c. €940 million represents a significant 43% uplift in the allocation from 2025. This reflects the Government’s commitment to ensuring that public transport services can continue to operate reliably and sustainably in the face of growing passenger demand and increased operational costs.
This allocation will also allow for the continued delivery of targeted fare initiatives, this year I introduced free travel for all children up to the age of 9 and continued the Young Adult Card for those aged 19–25, as part of the NTA’s National Fares Strategy. These measures, which will be continued in 2026, help ensure that public transport remains accessible and affordable for families, students, and young workers across the country.
€31 million has been secured for rural transport in 2026 – a 38% increase on last year’s funding. This ensures the continued delivery of vital services across rural Ireland, to meet demand in communities that depend on these services most.
In parallel, investment has continued to support the rollout of planned improvements within the existing network, such as the recently launched F Spine under Phase 7 of BusConnects. This phase introduces high-frequency, 24-hour bus services on key corridors, including routes F1, F2, and F3, enhancing connectivity between areas such as Tallaght, Finglas, Charlestown, and the city centre. The redesign also includes new radial and local routes to streamline and make the network more efficient.
Regarding bus infrastructure, construction on the Liffey Valley to City Centre Core Bus Corridor scheme will commence this month with a view to full completion by 2028. In addition, following the approval of the Ballymun/Finglas to City Centre Core Bus Corridor scheme at Approval Gate 3 under the Infrastructure Guidelines in November and the signing of the construction contract in December, construction is expected to commence in 2026.
Regarding rail, in April, a new ‘through’ platform at Kent station in Cork opened, which was a key landmark in the delivery of the Cork Commuter Rail Project. The public consultation on Phase 2 of the Programme launched in June, including proposals for eight new stations, a new fleet maintenance depot and full electrification of the network to support more frequent, reliable and sustainable rail transport for Cork. A public consultation for the emerging preferred route for Luas Cork was launched on 14th April. The newest DART station, Woodbrook, opened in August.
The All-Island Strategic Rail Review was undertaken in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. Following two public consultations, the Review’s Final Report was published in July 2024. The Review's Final Report sets out 32 strategic recommendations to enhance and expand the rail system in Ireland and Northern Ireland up to 2050, aligning with net carbon zero commitments in both jurisdictions.
Assisted by the European Investment Bank (EIB) Advisory Services, the Department of Transport and Department for Infrastructure, and agencies across the island, are working to progress the Report’s recommendations in the years ahead. As part of this work, a Project Prioritisation Strategy was developed and published on 15 December.
The Strategy outlines how to best sequence and optimise the recommendations of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, and specifies short-term rail infrastructure investments, referred to as Early Interventions, to be delivered in the coming years. These include a series of new track passing loops and platforms to boost the rail network’s resilience and capacity. Work on these projects in Ireland will start next year, for full delivery by 2030 with funding provided in the National Development Plan (NDP) Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport, which was published by the Department of Transport in November.
The Strategy also identifies Major Projects to be progressed for the longer-run, involving intercity electrification and significant capacity upgrades on the rail network. These Major Projects include “FourNorth”, to add track capacity on the busy Northern line north of Connolly station; electrification and line speed improvements on the Dublin-Cork and Dublin-Belfast routes, and reinstatement of lines including the Western Rail Corridor between Claremorris to Athenry.
