Ruth Coppinger
Ceist:95. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport to report on the issue of cancelled buses on the Dublin Bus and Go Ahead networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15474/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraPublic Transport
Ceisteanna (95)
Freagraí ó Béal (6 píosaí cainte)
How seriously does the Department take the issue of ghost buses or cancelled buses? In the first six months of last year there were 6,000 complaints to the NTA in Dublin about this. Those are just people who get the strength to make complaints. This is causing real problems in my area, particularly with the 238 which is an absolutely infamous ghost bus. The people of Tyrrelstown are losing their jobs and losing their livelihoods. They are ending up late for work and late for school. It is having a huge impact on people's lives. What are the repercussions from the Department for the operators?
I assure Deputy Coppinger that I do take it very seriously. It is a real frustration and inconvenience for passengers who are affected by ghost buses or services that do not show up. There have been particular recent bus cancellations on the Dublin Bus and Go Ahead Ireland networks. We need to acknowledge that last year there were 363.5 million public passenger journeys across the State, which is up 6% on the previous year, the highest amount ever, so people are responding. However, it behoves the operators to ensure that the services as listed turn up.
Issues happen from time to time and they arise for a range of reasons, including driver and mechanic shortages which has been an issue on the route the Deputy referred to, particularly with the services operated by Go Ahead. In my supplementary reply I will come back with more detail on what is happening there.
The most significant factor in recent months has been traffic congestion. For example, Dublin Bus is currently delivering 98% of contracted kilometres set by the NTA. However, punctuality is being affected by rising traffic volumes in the city in particular. Buses delayed going out and coming back in are having an effect. I have convened a meeting on 18 March with stakeholders specifically to discuss congestion in the city core but also around the M50.
Some things need to be planned better within our transport operators, particularly relating to resources, something Go Ahead has acknowledged. I have been in touch with the operators directly on many occasions, particularly on the issue of being able to trust the data on the app. If the app is showing the bus is coming but then it just disappears, people cannot make alternative arrangements. A big issue with Go Ahead has been with mechanics. It has employed ten more but they were delayed in getting here. They have been trained and are now working, so we should see an improvement there.
While Dublin Bus is generally performing very well, one of its issues is with driver numbers. It is recruiting a further 100 drivers from South Africa right now and they are coming in. There are still good jobs for people in Dublin Bus. We have work to do there and I am continuing to do it. The Deputy should trust me - I take this very seriously. It is a serious issue. I will come back in with some more details in a minute.
Congestion, drivers, mechanics, breakdowns and all sorts of reasons are given. Is it not some reflection that we cannot get workers to work in these services? As the Minister knows, one of the issues with Go Ahead is that it has reduced conditions compared with Dublin Bus. Drivers were eating their lunch on the side of the road at one point.
However, I want to talk about the 238. It is absolutely unacceptable that between 4.2% and 8.2% of the bus journeys on the 238 route are cancelled every week. How can up to 8% be acceptable at any time? The people paying the price are ordinary working people. It is also ironic that they are trying to introduce parking charges in Blanchardstown centre. The 238 is the only bus people in Tyrrelstown have to get to Blanchardstown centre and yet they are meant to be taking that bus. Many of the people work there, by the way.
I draw the Minister's attention to the impact it is having. There was a very good article in the Dublin Inquirer interviewing people in the area. A woman, Ms Bernie Casey, talked about her 23-year-old son and said it is affecting his work. Some of her son's friends have lost their jobs in the centre because of it.
I am pleased that people are responding and using public transport at rates we have not seen previously. That is good. I acknowledge that particularly on certain routes, there are issues. A cancellation rate of up to 8% in a month on the 238 route is unacceptable. I will raise that matter directly with the operators.
The operators do get fined and significant fines are levied on them for non-performance. I have the 2024 figures for Go-Ahead Ireland, which are the most recent figures I have for a full year. It was fined well over €1 million. That money is then reinvested.
Bus Átha Cliath is running a jobs campaign at the moment. They are good, secure jobs with good in-house training. There is good career advancement. The Deputy said the situation is ridiculous if we cannot find people to work in those jobs. There are nearly 3 million now working in the economy. The economy is going well. People are well-trained and well-educated. There is a pro-enterprise Government. That does pose strains. I am not in any way dismissing the point the Deputy has made, particularly about the 238 bus. I will look specifically at that matter. I have a meeting on 18 March with bus operators and other stakeholders about congestion.
I will also mention the other services for Tyrrelstown and Hollystown. The Minister knows these areas well from his time on Fingal County Council. He knows the figures for Fingal. It is the fastest growing area and so on. I do not need to recite the figures to him. Dublin West has never had the transport it needs. It is the most recurring issue that people are contacting me about. It is causing hardship to students who are trying to get to UCD through two- to three-hour bus journeys. The 39 route is like a coffin ship at this point. It just keeps being added to and the journey keeps getting longer.
A woman in Tyrrelstown contacted me. She works in Dublin Port. Can you imagine what a feat that is? It is like an odyssey, trying to match up the different connections. It is very dangerous for a woman late at night or early in the morning when it is dark. People in these areas are suffering. There is also the 40d route.
If the Government wants houses built, and we all want houses built, we must have the transport and infrastructure. Dublin West needs massive investment in public transport.
Dublin West will get and is getting that massive investment. We have €24.3 billion to invest in transport between now and 2030. The Deputy is right to highlight the issue. I know Dublin West very well. The Fingal area is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country. There are good jobs there. New families are setting down their roots in the housing we have built over the past five years. There are more than pinch points in certain areas and the Deputy is right to raise those as an issue. I will in particular raise the specific routes that the Deputy has mentioned. I am aware of the issues. It is our job to work hard with the transport operators to improve the services that are there. There are some routes that are working very well but there are others that, quite frankly, are not. An 8% cancellation rate is unacceptable.
I will mention the automatic vehicle location system, which will make a big difference. With it, at least people will know if there is a delay or cancellation because they will be able to see it on the app. There will be real-time data. That is going into pilot this quarter, with full roll-out and completion scheduled for 2027, which is next year. That is notwithstanding the fact that we must improve the core quality bus corridors, which we are doing. There are plans in Dublin 15 and west Dublin for that, as the Deputy knows.
Public Transport
Ceisteanna (96)
Joe Neville
Ceist:96. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Transport the number of transport surveys carried out over the public transport networks to ensure that there is adequate capacity on routes and efficiency in delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15650/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (11 píosaí cainte)
I welcome to the Gallery my son, Liam, who is taking a mid-morning break from school. He is welcome.
I wish to ask how many transport surveys have been carried out over the public transport networks to ensure there is adequate capacity on routes and efficiency in delivery; and to ask the Minister of State to make a statement on the matter, especially pertaining to north Kildare.
I welcome the Deputy's son to the Public Gallery. Is his name Liam?
Yes.
Liam, you are very welcome to the Gallery. Perhaps he will follow in the footsteps of his dad, his uncle and his cousin. Hopefully some day he might be here.
I thank the Deputy for his question. As the body responsible for public transport planning, the NTA, along with public transport operators, conducts regular surveys of public transport capacity. To assist with the prioritisation of the deployment of additional bus capacity in the greater Dublin area, the NTA has recently developed a new business intelligence tool, using ticketing data to identify where capacity issues are being experienced across the bus network by route and time of day. For Dublin Bus, this was supplemented with 17 surveys to verify the accuracy of the results. It is intended to roll out the tool's use across the wider bus network upon the availability of all relevant data sets needed to estimate capacity and usage.
On Bus Éireann services in quarter 4 of 2025, capacity surveys were undertaken on 25 selected routes where overloading concerns were recurring. Selected sample bus stops were surveyed remotely using CCTV and camera technologies. With regard to rail and light rail capacity, in the case of Luas and Irish Rail, fleet and driver resources, as well as track capacity, are now heavily used during peak demand periods so the scope to add extra capacity at these times is limited. The next tranche of new rail fleet, including battery electric DART, is expected to come into service in 2027, at which point there will be an opportunity to add additional capacity to existing rail services.
On Luas services, TII commissions a yearly census over one sample week in October or November on both green and red lines during peak patronage periods. All tram stops are surveyed remotely using CCTV, with some in-person surveys undertaken for validation purposes. Similar annual surveys are undertaken at all Irish Rail stations, generally on a Thursday in November to reflect the busiest period on the network.
The NTA acknowledges that capacity can be a challenge. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I have also been on to the NTA about capacity issues. We continue to regularly monitor this and work closely with all operators to identify where improvements can be made. I will supply the Deputy with more information in the next part of my response.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit for the response. The reason I raise the issue is that in the fast-growing area of north Kildare, which has had a huge population increase, we have significant challenges when it comes to transport and public transport. As we all know, the roads, including the M4 and the N7, are full coming into Dublin in the morning. We want to give the opportunity to as many people as possible to use buses and trains. Ultimately, many of those buses and trains are full. It is good to hear that the surveys are in place, that we are assessing the capacity and that the information is there. At the same time, we need to ensure the information is shared and we understand that it gets used in the best way possible. Trains coming from Kildare in the morning can be delayed. There can be buses that do not turn up. We need to ensure those data are captured. I would like any information that the Minister of State has to be shared with us.
I thank the Deputy. He is right that the capturing of information is important. He spoke about the exponential growth in the Maynooth, Lexlip and Kilcock areas. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, spoke about the Fingal piece. The NTA is acutely aware of, and acknowledges, that the capacity issue is a challenge at times. The NTA continues to make efforts to incorporate and learn from the feedback we have spoken about this morning. It is important to recognise that, subject to planning, the recently announced BusConnects phase 7 routes should be of significant help.
I reassure the Deputy that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I, and our Department, will continue to work with the NTA to ensure the network delivers on the objectives set out and that the performances are closely monitored as we remain focused on delivering services for people, the travelling public and the customers that they can depend and rely on. The Deputy is right. It is about ensuring that people in north Kildare have a transport system that is fit for purpose and takes people off the M4, as the Deputy said. I would be happy to engage further with the Deputy, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. It is about information and data that can lead to positive outcomes for the travelling public.
While we are discussing north Kildare specifically, there are a couple of projects that have been set in train. The M4 bus corridor, for example, has been built. I was recently in touch with the Minister's Department looking to ensure that we get the legislation passed so we get that bus corridor open. That would be one way to take traffic off the motorway.
DART+ South West has been delayed. We really need it because there has been that increase in population all the way down towards Naas and all along that corridor. We need to ensure we have a full, live DART system, as well as the one we are going to have from Leixlip to Maynooth and coming out to Kilcock within the term of this Government. There are a lot of positive projects in north Kildare and I am pushing for them, but we need to ensure other things, such as Local Link buses and buses to the likes of Johnstown Bridge, as well as more Bus Éireann buses, while at the same time ensuring we get DART+ South West in place in order that everything links up cohesively.
The M7 to Dublin from Carlow and Kilkenny is heavily congested. Drivers are frustrated by the traffic and the delays. The number of business vehicles using the route has increased substantially. I would like to see some action on it.
I draw the Minister of State's attention to the need for huge investment in local routes in Kilkenny city. Places like the Lyrath Estate Hotel, the Abbott facility and housing estates and nursing homes dotted around the city are not served by bus routes. I ask that the reports being submitted and the constant lobbying that is going on be recognised and that we ensure that huge investment and input will deliver extended services to all of those places and bring in towns like Graiguenamanagh, Thomastown, Johnstown and Freshford, which are being neglected.
Will the Minister of State please intervene with Iarnród Éireann regarding Kilkenny railway station? The old buildings are in an absolutely shocking state. Iarnród Éireann has shown clear disrespect for Kilkenny in terms of the appearance of the station.
I am familiar with the situation relating to the M7. Deputy McGuinness is right that it has become heavily congested and is an absolute nightmare for motorists. We need a further conversation on what we can do there. I will happily meet the Deputy on Sunday in Nowlan Park to discuss the important issue he raised regarding Kilkenny city.
I thought that in all the announcements about road projects, there might be something about the ring road for Kilkenny.
I could not get the Deputy's number, but I will happily meet with him to discuss it.
Regarding Kilkenny railway station, that is under the remit of the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, but I will get back to the Deputy on it. I certainly will work with him on the roads issue because it is very important.
Deputy Neville is right about the M4 bus corridor. It has been built and should be used. The Minister has asked his officials in the Department to expedite the relevant legislation and he hopes to have it done by the summer recess. It is an important issue. As the Deputy knows, we are seeing progress on DART+ South West. He is right to raise the issue of the M4 bus corridor because the situation beggars belief. I thank him for his advocacy and ongoing work on it. The whole ethos overarching his question is about gathering information that will support future planning and delivery of services, including roads, bus and train services for the travelling public. It is an important question because it will facilitate the development of new routes and alternatives. I hope the Department, working with the NTA, can expedite the matter.
Bus Services
Ceisteanna (97)
Paul McAuliffe
Ceist:97. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to ensure that the NTA and service providers such as Dublin Bus are adhering to punctuality standards for buses across Dublin city, given that, as per the public service obligation contracts annual performance report, many low-frequency Dublin Bus routes did not experience punctuality of above 80%. [15297/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (4 píosaí cainte)
My question relates to the punctuality of buses in my area. The recent roll-out of BusConnects on the F spine routes 23 and 24 has had a profound impact. Punctuality is not something one would have associated with the early phases or even the continuing phases. Will the Minister provide an update in respect of the obligations on providers in this regard?
The Deputy has been advocating on this issue for some time. The F spine routes have only been in place only since October, and there have been issues with them. The NTA is monitoring them. BusConnects is and should be a positive development but we have seen very specific issues with some of the new routes that have been rolled out. I absolutely assure the Deputy that I will work directly with him on this on behalf of his constituents. I have already highlighted the issues, particularly on the 23 and 24 routes, to the NTA.
There have been issues with some resources within the bus operators. Leaving that aside, BusConnects is a positive development and an investment in our public transport. The Ballymun-Finglas quality bus corridor is approved and going to construction. It is the second one and will make a big difference in terms of giving priority to buses and also on the active travel side. There are issues with congestion. I am convening a meeting with stakeholders on 18 March to discuss, in particular, congestion in the city core but not just there. We will look at interim and short-term measures that can be taken to improve bus journeys in particular.
More and more people are using public transport and it is great to see. There were 363.5 million passenger journeys in 2025, which was the highest number ever. Bus Átha Cliath carried the greatest number of passengers among all our operators. People are responding but I fully acknowledge the frustration with the roll-out of some of the new routes in terms of how they operate in practice versus what was said in principle. I am actively looking at that. The NTA is assessing it right now and will engage with the operators. Lessons have been learnt. I want very clear avenues set down for how we can improve performance in that area. Financial penalties applying is no consolation to people. We need a reliable service. I will remain fully engaged with the Deputy on those two particular routes on the F spine.
I appreciate the Minister's interest in this matter. I have engaged with him regarding the core bus corridors, which are incredibly welcome and which will facilitate speedier journeys into the city centre. Together with the tenders going out for the metro project, we are seeing substantial investment in future infrastructure.
Before Christmas, at a meeting with public representatives, NTA representatives spoke about October being a difficult time to implement a new service, with increasing congestion heading into the Christmas period. They also spoke about issues with recruitment. Providers need to have these matters in order and they need to engage with the NTA. When a new service is being introduced by the NTA, it must be done in conjunction with the operator.
The Minister referred to penalties. I would rather have buses arriving on time than a company being fined. However, when it comes to for-profit operators, the facility to impose a financial penalty is important. There are bus services in my area that are operated by private operators. It is my preference that they not be there but that is the nature of the current framework. We must make sure they abide by the conditions under which they tendered for those contracts.
I 100% agree. There have been issues with Go-Ahead Ireland, for example, with regard to mechanics. That has been rectified and those mechanics are now in place. We have had issues with driver recruitment across our network. One of the reasons for that is we have near full employment in our economy, with record numbers of people - nearly 3 million - working. Having said that , there are very good and well-paid jobs that give a path to progression within our bus operators, including in Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and others.
The Deputy is right, and I have said this to the NTA, that when an operator bids for a route and is awarded it, we must be absolutely certain the resources are there to manage it. The people need to be there to do the job. Lots of good work has been done and I do not mean to be negative but I have been frustrated on a couple of occasions that we only found out after the event, when issues arose with particular routes, that the operator did not have enough mechanics or had not been able to recruit drivers. We need to tighten up on that big time between the NTA and the operators. Fines will continue to be imposed. In 2024, which is the most recent year for which we have full-year figures, the main private operator was fined nearly €1.5 million. Those fines are reinvested in the network.
I assure the Deputy that this matter is not off my radar. We will get improvements here. BusConnects is a good thing right across the country. There have been issues with new routes. We will work to fix them.
Rail Network
Ceisteanna (98)
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:98. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the date on which the public consultation on the route options and emerging preferred route for the Navan rail project will take place; if he will provide an update on the project development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14756/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (6 píosaí cainte)
On what date will the public consultation take place on the route options and emerging preferred route for the Navan rail project? A commitment was given at the end of last year that it would happen early in 2026.
The NTA's transport strategy for the greater Dublin area sets out the framework for transport investment across the region from 2022 to 2042. The strategy includes delivery of the Navan rail line between 2031 and 2036, subject to planning and funding approvals. The plan is currently on target.
It is anticipated that a public consultation on the route options for the Navan rail line will take place in the middle of this year. I will ask that it be done by the end of quarter 2. We want to avoid it happening during the summer period. We want people to have input into the consultation process, which will ultimately result in a defined route for the Navan train line. It will support the development of a preliminary business case, which will need to be approved by the Government, in line with the requirements of the infrastructure guidelines, before any planning application.
Government is committed to the Navan rail line project. It is anticipated that a planning application - known as a railway order - for the Navan rail project will be lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála in 2028. We have the public consultation on the preferred route and the preparation of the planning. In 2028, the planning application will go in. It is fully funded to do that. To be fair, the Deputy and his colleagues in Meath West have been raising this regularly, and rightly so. Navan and the area around it are growing. We have committed to the rail line. Some might say with a lot of justification that it has been talked about for too long but has not been delivered. We are absolutely committed to doing so. I am hopeful that if we can meet those timelines, we will have planning permission in 2029. The sectoral plan, which was published in November 2025, provides funding for the Navan rail line project to progress through this process and up to the railway order. That is the timeframe. We are looking at the end of quarter 2 for the public consultation.
I make no apology for being obsessed with this project. It is just such a potential game changer for the county on so many different levels. It is hugely important socially, culturally, economically and environmentally. It would be transformative and I welcome the fact it is now back on the agenda and back in the plans and there are euro beside it. I am concerned there will be slippage at every juncture, and there has been slippage in relation to it. As I said, in October, we said early 2006. Is the Minister confident that by the end of quarter 2, we will be able to go to consultation? I can say without a shadow of a doubt there will be huge interest, regardless of the time of year this goes to consultation. There have already been a huge number of submissions in relation to this project. There is huge interest in it.
The Deputy is right and I have no issue whatsoever with him raising this matter regularly. I do not want any slippage on it. The Navan rail line will be absolutely transformational in terms of quality of life, the environment and the economy. It will be a major piece of infrastructure to deliver. All I am interested in doing is making sure we hit those timeframes. In the NDP, there are major projects like MetroLink which has gone on for years and will start construction next year. There is DART+ and all of the various things. We have talked about quality bus corridors. There is major investment in public transport, and rightly so. I am keeping a really close eye on the Navan project and I want the public consultation out by the end of quarter 2. I take the Deputy's point that whenever it comes out, people will be very interested in it.
Regarding the timelines, we are dependent on planning. For some of those elements, we have a better planning system now. Obviously, I hope we do not get objections and various things like that but let us control what we can control. For the public consultation piece on the preferred route, we are aiming for the middle of year, that is, the end of quarter 2 or very early quarter 3 if there is any slippage but it has to be the middle of this year. I will certainly keep the Deputy informed of progress.
We can control what we can control in relation to this and we will be persistent in pursuing it and making sure, as best we can from the Opposition benches, we hit those deadlines. The big question then is around taking it beyond planning and to construction. Will the Minister outline how the Navan rail project best positions itself as a priority project in the midst of a range of other funding demands on the Department and the Minister? How can the project compete to ensure it can move quickly and uninterruptedly to construction?
The Deputy is right; we can control the controllables. It is funded right the way up to planning and we will get it through planning. We often talk about the NDP going to 2030. Of the €104.25 billion investment, one quarter of that is for public transport. If we look out to 2035, the figure is €245 billion. Thanks to the hard work of our people and good economic management, we will have the capital to actually deliver these projects. By the way, I do not look at them just from an expenditure perspective. It is also about what they will deliver in economic terms. That investment will pay back in spades to the Exchequer. I know Deputy O'Rourke, Deputy Aisling Dempsey, the Minister, Deputy Helen McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, have all been working very closely together, to be fair, advocating for the people of Meath on this and the difference that it will make. We will have this funded. What we have to do is really watch this project as it moves through. Meath is in the greater Dublin area framework of the transport investment strategy and it is listed in the NPD. Let us get a consultation done, get people engaged with it, get it into planning, get it out of planning by 2029, and get on with building this transformational project.
Bus Services
Ceisteanna (99)
Albert Dolan
Ceist:99. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Transport the status of the review of the public consultation on the proposed 425A bus route; the status of the assessment of submissions received; the expected timeline for completing the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14894/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (6 píosaí cainte)
I want to raise the issue of the 425A bus route from Mountbellew to Galway city. Back in January the NTA launched a public consultation on its proposals. I would like an update as to where that public consultation is at. Has it been reviewed and assessed and where is it at? From speaking to representatives of the NTA in the Committee of Public Accounts they seemed to indicate that by the end of quarter 1, they would have an update but I would appreciate an update from the Minister today.
Deputy Dolan and I have discussed this route before. The Department of Transport, the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I are acutely aware of this. We have seen good increases across the rural transport network and they are very important links. I have mentioned to other Deputies and colleagues that when we look at public transport usage, we see that 363.5 million people used it last year. People are responding both in urban and rural areas when the services are there.
Regarding the 425A route between Galway and Mountbellew, the NTA was proposing to amend the bus network - we discussed this and the Deputy has concerned around that - serving Athenry. The recently published consultation closed on 9 January of this year. I am telling the Deputy things he already knows. I know them too and I want him to be assured of that. The proposal consists of the rerouting of the existing 425A through Athenry and the introduction of a new route, 416, between Athenry and Tuam. There were over 100 submissions, which is good. I know the Deputy has been to the forefront of this as well. They are being assessed now. I have to give them a little bit of time, although not an inordinate amount of time because people need to act quickly.
On foot of the Deputy's question, which I thank him for, I can say that we discussed this with the NTA and my team yesterday, which the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, will tell him, in preparation for this. I have asked for an update on when we are coming back with the assessment of the submissions. It is good that is done because we have to take people's views into account. We also have to take into account the views of the operators and how we can provide a better service for people. I will keep the Deputy directly informed on this. I expect to get a date for when the submissions are finalised. Then we can move on and have a look at it and see what the construct of the service will be then.
I really appreciate that and the manner in which the Minister has worked with me on this since I became aware of the NTA's proposals. It is important to say that absolutely nobody in my constituency has come to me saying they want to see the 425A rerouted into Athenry. Previously, the 425A was a once daily return service. It is now a four times daily service. It is working fantastically and we do not need to change it. A 416 service from Tuam to Athenry in the form of a Local Link would be fantastic but the reality is that what we are missing is an investment. We need an Athenry bus that goes directly to Galway city. Athenry is a town with a population in excess of 5,000 people. Our trains, as the Minister knows, are at capacity and we need the bus to provide an alternative form of transport for people to get into the city. That is my real ask; that Athenry gets its own, dedicated bus service.
The Deputy has been and remains a very strong advocate for improving public transport in his constituency and the Galway area. I commend him on that and I will work with him in this regard. Thankfully, the Government, of which he is a member, is investing in public transport at a rate never seen before. What really pleases me is the investment in our regions as well. It is not east coast-centric or Dublin-centric where it may have been with some other initiatives. We are looking at regional development.
I asked the NTA about it yesterday. We are looking at the end of quarter 1 for conclusion of the review of the submissions, which is the end of next month. I will give it that time and then we will assess it. The Deputy has very clearly articulated the fact the 425A service is working well and people do not want to see a change being made to it. I am sure that will be borne out in the submissions. I assure the Deputy that he and I will work directly on it.
The Minister is right. There has been such a significant investment over the past few years in public transport, active travel and trying to secure the future of our networks. Athenry had a privately-operated bus service. It pulled out essentially because the middle-day services were not feasible. There is a public service obligation, PSO, determination there. It is in place for Athenry and we need to meet it.
The bus going from Athenry does not have to go directly on the motorway. It goes in by a place called Derrydonnell, over to Oranmore and into Galway City. It could be a fantastic service that covers more areas. It would be an addition of service because the rerouting of the 425A is seen as a shortcut to serve Athenry, and that cannot be the case because it would disproportionately affect people on the Galway Road. I really appreciate the Minister’s engagement on this matter.
At the end of quarter 1 when we have the submissions back, we will have a look at it. One thing is, with the PSO, which underpins many public transport services because we have expanded them so greatly, myself and the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, were able to secure a significant increase in the base in the PSO. This still means we have to manage new routes in the context of our overall allocation.
The point the Deputy has made very clearly is very valid. The existing four-time-a-day service is working very well. If we need additional services, which the Deputy has advocated for also, that also needs to be looked at in the round too. What I commit to doing is, when this submission review has been completed, we will get a copy. We obviously have to work with the NTA because it sets the routes, but I will certainly engage with the Deputy directly on this. I know how important it is to him. To be fair, he has been advocating for it on a regular basis.
Greenways Provision
Ceisteanna (100)
Brian Brennan
Ceist:100. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Transport for an update on progress of the Arklow to Shillelagh greenway; to outline the next steps in the process, and a timeframe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15349/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (5 píosaí cainte)
I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter about a very scenic part of the country. I thank him for his advocacy. For the purpose of the question and the greenway itself, the Minister for Transport has responsibility for the overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to greenways. The planning, design and construction of individual greenways is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland in conjunction with the local authority.
As Deputy Brennan knows, and he has been a long time campaigner for this, the Government has long-since recognised the strategic value of greenways as sustainable transport corridors, as well as being catalysts for regional economic development tourism and community health and wellbeing. That is why the Government and the Department of Transport allocated €59 million to TII this year, to support the greenways and active travel and national roads programme. One scheme being supported is the Arklow to Shillelagh greenway, as Deputy Brennan has articulated and outlined. Last year, this scheme completed phase 2 which was the open selection of TII’s project management guidelines. This is a significant milestone for the delivery of the greenway as it involves identifying a preferred route corridor for the scheme. Wicklow County Council is currently procuring a technical adviser to help advance this preferred route corridor through the development approval process. A successful tenderer has been identified, and their appointment is anticipated in the coming weeks. The technical adviser will commence works to progress the scheme through phase 3, which is design and environmental evaluation. This phase takes into account technical, environmental and social factors identified in earlier project stages and will establish the definitive land footprint necessary to develop and operate the greenway. There will also be extensive engagement with affected landowners and stakeholders during this phase.
It is anticipated that phase 3 will take up to 24 months to complete. Immediate tasks over the coming months will focus on engagement with the Arklow to Shillelagh greenway committee, as well as stakeholder engagement more broadly, procuring and undertaking necessary engineering and environmental surveys, and advancing design development. The Department of Transportation – I will conclude on this – has committed €300,000 to this greenway project for this year. We are committed to the scheme. We hope to see, along with Deputy Brennan, it progress in the coming years.
I thank the Minister of State. In my life, before I took up this position, I was heavily involved in the tourism industry in south County Wicklow for over 20 years. I know first-hand the area’s needs and I cannot emphasise enough the importance of this greenway project. Our support for this is simply critical, as for decades now there is a genuine feeling in south County Wicklow that it has been ignored in terms of tourism investment. This project will simply be a game changer and a catalyst for future tourism developments in Arklow, Woodenbridge, Aughrim, Tinahely and Shillelagh and everywhere in between. I am of the belief that tourism is the greatest commodity we have in this country. When a person has guests staying in towns or villages it really ticks so many boxes; employment, support for local suppliers, shops, pubs, cafés and restaurants. I recognise there has been positive progress on this project over the past few months, but this project is simply taking too long. The first meeting was held nine years ago, on 17 October 2017, in Lawless’ Hotel, Aughrim. We must stay positive and I look forward to ensuring this particular project comes to fruition.
I genuinely thank the Deputy for his commitment and dedication to this project. As someone in the hospitality sector he recognises the importance of the greenway project. What might be unique in this case is that the scheme has general public acceptance and deserves to progress more quickly than others.
In my own area of Cork we have a huge issue with a particular greenway, which is disappointing in terms of the level of engagement by TII. In this case, we have allocated money to TII and it has already expended or allocated almost €100,000 towards this scheme. There is a number of phases to go through, as the Deputy knows. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I have always spoken about expediting and increasing the passage through gates in terms of projects. It is important for a variety of reasons. As the Deputy said, this will be a game-changer for the area. If we look at areas like Arklow, Woodenbridge, Tinahely and Shillelagh, these are areas that bring people in. They are wonderful spots and great tourist attractions. This will be an unlocking of further potential.
I totally agree with the Minister of State. I drive this route every week. I try to have a vision of what will happen – not if but when – this greenway happens. We look at cafés on the quays in Arklow, Woodenbridge buzzing with tourists, Lawless’ Hotel in Aughrim reopening, bike shops in Tinahely or more pods in Shillelagh. It is going to be simply transformative. We often overuse the term “game-changer”, but it will literally open up new tourism in south County Wicklow. I worked for years in tourism and fought against the Westports, Galways and Killarneys to get tourists into south County Wicklow. When we get this project it will be transformative and we need the Minister of State’s help along the way.
I assure the Deputy that the Minister, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I are very committed to this greenway project. The Deputy is right, and he paints a wonderful picture. I look forward to visiting with him again because he has painted a wonderful, broad brush of what it can do. It will drive economic change and regeneration. The point the Deputy has made is the vision will become a reality. It is not “if”, it is “when”, and all of us on this side of the House are anxious to progress the scheme. From our end, there are no barriers to the progression of the scheme. We have allocated money for the greenway project. The Deputy’s enthusiasm will help us to go back and further engage with TII to ensure that we can, with Wicklow County Council, bring this to fruition. There seems to be broad acceptance and agreement around this greenway, which is a positive. Our Department has allocated funding for the greenway project and we look forward to its completion.
Public Transport
Ceisteanna (101)
Maeve O'Connell
Ceist:101. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Transport if his Department is considering encouraging transport providers to extend public transport operating hours later into the night to facilitate the night-time economy in Dublin. [14878/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (6 píosaí cainte)
I want to ask the Minister about how we can support the night time economy by seeing if he is engaging with both public and private transport providers to try to extend operating hours later into the night.
I thank Deputy O'Connell for raising this really important issue in terms of the extension of service operating hours and the BusConnects network redesign. As she is no doubt aware, it is a transformative programme of investment in our bus system aimed at improving public transport across the city by strengthening the existing system through enhanced services with high-frequency spines and new local orbital and radial roots. As part of that redesign, the NTA has introduced 15 24-hour bus services across the city in recent years. That significantly enhances both late night and early morning travel options. It has allowed more people, particularly night time and shift workers, to use and avail of public transport services.
In addition to those 15 24-hour routes, we have 12 Nitelink services which run from the city centre to the suburbs on Friday and Saturday nights, providing extra capacity during peak late-night demand periods. Iarnród Éireann operates all available trains across the network daily to meet the record demand it is seeing on all routes. This is outside of required maintenance cycles to ensure fleet reliability, and any repair works which may be taking place. However, over periods such as St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas and new year, Iarnród Éireann puts on additional late-night services to accommodate passengers. I asked the company if there is any more flexibility, recognising that we do more with the buses. Fifteen 24-hour routes and 12 Nitelink routes are great and support the night-time economy. While I know we have a short window for maintenance of tracks, which we need to do for safety reasons, we might look at further weekends in the year when we could extend the rail and Luas services. They are constrained more than the buses because we have to maintain the tracks and rolling stock, but I have asked both companies if there is any other flex or other opportunities to provide additional services that bit later on certain weekends.
I thank the Minister. I appreciate the feedback on that and that the Minister is engaging with the rail operators, Transdev and Irish Rail, about trying to extend rail services. I represent Dublin Rathdown, which is a constituency adjacent to the city centre constituencies. An awful lot of my constituents raise the point with me all the time that they would go into town more often if they knew that they could get home. We are within a distance from the city centre that it should be easily accessible and affordable. We have taxi services, but like every form of transportation, they do not suit everybody all the time. Many areas in Dublin Rathdown are quite close, and I have personally done the walk from the city centre to Stillorgan many times due to the lack of public transport. I always make sure I wear comfortable shoes. Again, that is not suitable for every person at all times, particularly in our climate. I also represent a constituency with UCD's students, and there is huge potential for them to support the night-time economy.
Those 15 routes I referred to are up and running. They are 24-hour routes. Going back five years, we did not have any 24-hour routes. The Deputy is right that we need to support the economy. More people would go out in our city if it was easier to access. It is getting better. Of course we are looking for other opportunities for routes, with more 24-hour routes. Obviously they have to be paid for too. I mentioned in response to colleagues earlier that we have to manage our new routes and improvements to existing routes within the envelope of the PSO that we have. This issue is genuinely kept under review. I, like the Deputy, know the city well. It has bounced back post Covid but it could do with more help. Our taxi fleet has unquestionably improved. The Nitelink services exist but I have also asked the rail and Luas operators to see whether there is any additional headroom where we could provide additional times at certain periods of the year.
I listened to the Minister talk about the constraints in the system. It would be remiss of me not to refer to some of the communications I have received this week about our wider transportation service. Hannah was in touch with me about the No. 11 bus route in Clonskeagh. Three full buses went past her on one day, and this has happened repeatedly. She has spent hundreds of euro on taxis. Three buses went past Catherine from Leopardstown, going down the N11. In Kilternan, which is one of the fastest growing residential areas in the country, particularly in my constituency, there was a protest last Saturday, led by my colleague, Councillor Pearse Dargan, about the poor bus service there, including the L26, which should be going every 15 minutes and is actually going every 30 minutes, and the 44 service. There is a lack of connectivity between the fast-growing area of Kilternan with Dún Laoghaire and also to the Luas. I appreciate the pressures on the system.
We have to recognise that, as our population is growing, our system is growing too. The 363.5 million public passenger journeys last year is a record number. That is a good thing and I know the Deputy fully supports that. We will look at the specific issues with the routes the Deputy mentioned. I will feed that in and I am sure the Deputy has done so already. We will always have work to do to roll out those improvements. We are ambitious as a Government to see public transport options increased for our citizens and improvements made to existing routes and new routes. We have to balance that with how we can pay for it. It is also appropriate that we do that. Things are going in the right direction. There are issues with specific routes. I have spent quite some time this morning answering questions on those. I will feed the Deputy's comments in.
Road Projects
Ceisteanna (102)
Noel McCarthy
Ceist:102. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the progression of safety and traffic management measures on the N25 between Midleton and Carrigtwohill, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15464/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (6 píosaí cainte)
I am taking this parliamentary question on behalf of Deputy Noel McCarthy.
I thank the Deputy for raising this project on behalf of Deputy McCarthy, which I know is of great importance to him. The Minister for Transport has overall responsibility for the allocation of Exchequer funding for national roads. As part of the annual allocation process for national roads, TII prepares the booklet for funding for each project for the year. We announced this year's allocation last week. Approximately €139 million in Exchequer funding was allocated to Cork County Council for national roads in 2026. This represents an increase of over €66 million for Cork County Council when compared to last year, and will help to progress a number of major national road projects such as the M28 and N25. I know Deputy O'Shea has been advocating a greater increase in funding for Cork.
I am pleased to confirm that Cork County Council's allocation also includes €500,000 to enable of the progression of the Carrigtwohill to Midleton project, which has been paused at the route options selection phase since 2021 due to funding constraints. This project consists of an upgrade and realignment of approximately 5 km of the N25 dual carriageway from Carrigtwohill to Midleton. It will separate local and strategic traffic, and deliver upgraded junctions. Most important, it will improve safety for all road users on the N25 between Carrigtwohill and Midleton. Those of us who use that road know that it has become very congested and popular.
In addition, over the past number of years, TII has provided funding to Cork County Council for identifying smaller, more localised interventions on this section of the N25, including €100,000 this year for junction safety improvements. These are badly needed and we would all welcome them. While interventions on this section have proven challenging due to the number of access points, limited land in public ownership and budgetary constraints, one measure that has been developed and proposed by Cork County Council is at Milebush, where it is hoped to provide improved access by utilising lands owned by the local authority. I hope that will be progressed this year.
I thank the Minister of State. The current stretch of the N25 national route between Carrigtwohill and Midleton remains a safety issue. The configuration of the road is dangerous. There are frequent accidents, some of which have been fatal. TII's collision analysis has confirmed the collision rate for the route is above average. Low standard junctions, medium crossings and direct access points to the road for properties are not encouraging safe travel. At peak times, it is not unusual to see traffic on two busy lanes travelling at high speed. I acknowledge that TII has recently confirmed funding of €500,000 for the Carrigtwohill to Midleton route. While I appreciate that TII is the authority tasked with planning, design and construction of individual national roads, will the Minister of State please advise what the latest funding will be allocated for? Is it the intention that the junction will remove dangerous median crossings at Ballyrichard and Water-rock? Will they be closed? Any additional information the Minister of State can provide would be welcome.
Deputy O'Shea, speaking on behalf of Deputy McCarthy, is right that the N25 is an important road. It is the road to Rosslare Europort and funnels traffic into Cork city. As I said, the interventions for junction safety on the N25 are a matter for Cork County Council in this case. It will identify the points the Deputy has outlined and the need for enhanced safety measures to be taken. Funding has been allocated to it. The important point for our Department is that this road has had a number of accidents and fatalities. We have allocated resources to the council to ensure we can have the on-ramp, off-ramp, access points and egress improved.
I will take the points the Deputy made back to Cork County Council and back to the NTA on behalf of Deputy McCarthy because it is about ensuring that road is safe. We have already seen a huge allocation of resources to the improvement of the road at the tunnel. This will further augment the work being done there.
I note that the N25 Carrigtohill to Midleton project was included in the latest national development plan review, which was published in November, as one of the roads projects to be advanced for future construction. It is, however, currently lagging behind the proposed upgrade to the Midleton to Youghal section of the N25 as no tendering or construction date has commenced or is yet outlined for the Carrigtohill to Midleton section. The situation is likely to worsen in future with thousands of housing units currently under development at Water Rock and more proposed for Midleton. This will put additional pressure on the already overburdened junction at the Lakeview roundabout in Midleton. This roundabout was upgraded with a slip road in 2019, which has made some difference. However, the whole design of the roundabout is no longer fit for purpose given the traffic volumes currently. Can the Minister confirm if the upgrade to the Lakeview roundabout will be progressed as one of the additional interventions proposed at the N25 Midleton to Youghal route? I am sure Deputy McCarthy will welcome any progress.
Government with the NTA and the council have allocated funding. This is a very important route. Living in and being from Cork, I recognise the volume of traffic has increased, and the number of accidents has increased. It is a priority for us in government. That is why we have allocated money after having had a pause. I will take the areas the Deputy mentioned back to Cork County Council because the issues he raised are a matter for the council in the main. I will articulate the views of Deputy McCarthy to the council. I will make the point to Deputy O'Shea that we have allocated €139 million in Exchequer funding to Cork County Council for national roads this year, which is an increase. I hope that as part of that allocation of funding, we will see the route and the junctions the Deputy mentioned are addressed by the council.
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