Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2026
289. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the roll-out of Phase 8 of the BusConnects programme; when he expects the roll-out to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16280/26]
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 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 the Deputy may be aware, BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in the bus system, providing better bus services across five cities, including Dublin. BusConnects is the largest investment in the bus system in the history of the State and is managed by the NTA.
Following on from three rounds of public consultation which concluded in 2020, new bus services in Dublin are already being delivered, with the first seven phases of the Network Redesign rolled out in recent years. The most recent phase, Phase 7, which commenced in October 2025, saw the introduction of the F Spine connecting Finglas to Tallaght.
In terms of services, we secured an unprecedented allocation of €940 million for PSO services in Budget 2026, a significant 43% uplift in the allocation from Budget 2025. This allocation will ensure that existing public transport services can operate reliably and sustainably throughout the year in the face of growing passenger demand and increased operational costs. Matters relating to bus service delivery and planning, including bus routes, fall under the remit of the NTA, in co-operation with the relevant transport operator, and are subject to resource availability.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
