Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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I raise the shambles of the timetable change in the northern commuter line implemented by Irish Rail in two stages over the past three weeks. We, the commuters of north County Dublin, Fingal and indeed some of the Minister of State's constituents, are not happy. They are experienced commuters used to timetable changes throughout the years. This has been an absolute shambles for a number of reasons. There are major gaps in the peak-time service, ranging from 26- to 27-minute gaps between 7.45 a.m. and 8.10 a.m. to 45- to 46-minute gaps between 8.25 a.m. and 9.05 a.m. As anyone who uses public transport to go any distance knows, in the morning, at peak times especially, five-minute segments are huge. Five-minute segments to get children ready for preschool and school and get yourself ready for work are massive. Due to the huge gaps in the peak-time schedule, people have to move their schedules in the morning earlier to catch an earlier train, which I will come back to, or later. One benefit of catching an earlier train, if things were working properly, would be that might get you to work earlier. That is not happening. I have received emails from residents having to get earlier trains but because of blockages at Connolly Station and being delayed outside it and the trains terminating at Connolly Station when they used to go to Pearse Station - two changes impacting them - they are actually later for work than they were before. I am aware of workers on warnings for punctuality, new college students missing first days and students going to school in the city missing classes due to this. Earlier trains are not delivering people earlier; they are actually delivering them later.

All of this is to facilitate an hourly service to Belfast. We know there is congestion on the northern line and that it is under massive stress. There is a distractionary debate about future plans which may involve a shuttle service from Howth to Howth Junction. My concern is that distracts from a fundamental issue which is capacity on the northern line. Some 330,000 people live in Fingal. There are more in east County Meath, County Louth and Dublin city - all up that line. We need a four-track solution. Before we get there - it is miles away - we need a timetable that works for the majority of commuters who need to get to Dublin city centre for work and education. They need a frequent, reliable service that will get them there on time. This timetable is regressive. People are delayed, not getting in on time and are forced into even more congested trains than before. It is not working on any level. People in a town like Donabate, for example, are highly reliant on the train because the 33D bus service is not sufficient to get people into the city centre. They are now returning to the car. That is probably the most regressive thing that could happen from a public transport and climate point of view. People do not want to do that but they are forced to due to the new timetable.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Duncan Smith for raising this topic. I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan. Deputy Smith is right; quite a number of my constituents who use Laytown, Drogheda, Stamullen and Gormanston stations are affected by this.

The Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport, but neither the Minister or his officials are involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. That rests with the National Transport Authority, NTA. That said, the Government is absolutely committed to ensuring all citizens have reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options, and public transport is a key deliverer of this goal. To support this under the budget a funding package of €613 million was secured for public service obligation and Local Link services. This package includes fare reductions, the extension of the young adult card on PSO and commercial bus services to include 24- and 25-year-olds, and the continuation of the 90-minute fare until the end of this year. Funding was also secured to support the continued roll-out of new and enhanced bus and rail services.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government is strongly committed to improving public transport and is backing up that commitment with significant infrastructure investments across the network. This includes funding for initiatives such as the DART+ programme, the new DART+ fleet, the proposed replacement of the current enterprise fleet, and the introduction of an additional 41 intercity railcars. Residents who live along the Drogheda-Dublin line are receiving information about the public consultation and the planning process that is under way. A lot of work is about to happen to improve services.

Iarnród Éireann, in conjunction with the NTA, conducts an annual timetable review, with the most recent changes we all know about in north Dublin and east Meath entering into force on the 25 August. As the Deputy alluded to, these changes included extra services on the Belfast, Galway, Waterford, Cobh, and Midleton routes. The Belfast service impacts this particular line to facilitate an hourly frequency on the enterprise service from Dublin to Belfast and that can benefit some commuters in Drogheda as well.

As with all major rail timetable changes, Iarnród Éireann is required to closely monitors implementation to identify any issues that arise. Unfortunately, massive issues have arisen since the latest timetable has been in place. That has led to congestion in the Connolly Station area.

On foot of the identification of these issues a number of subsequent changes were made to the timetable on 16 September to help improve punctuality on the affected rail services. The most significant update is time changes mainly of between three and seven minutes on a range of services on the Maynooth and Drogheda lines, with some minor changes on other routes. Minor changes will also be in place on Sligo services and one of the M3 Parkway commuter services, with no changes to any Heuston services.

Iarnród Éireann should monitor closely the new timetable to identify any issues that may arise and listen strongly to what the Deputy said. Iarnród Éireann is reporting that at least the services seem to be keeping more to the timetable since 16 September, notwithstanding the other issues raised by him about the service in general.

There were some operational issues on 16 and 17 September as well and these issues particularly affected the evening peak service. I reassure the Deputy that the Department of Transport, the NTA, and Iarnród Éireann are working to ensure the best deployment of resources across the public transport network to match the demand of all of our constituents.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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Nobody understands timetables and public transport efficiency than the users themselves. I am aware of the operational issues on Monday and Tuesday and there has been an increase in correspondence to my office since the Monday change as well, notwithstanding those operational issues.

Connolly Station has always been congested and it is getting worse. There are issues right down to Grand Canal Dock Station. These are knock-on impacts that only manifest themselves now that the timetable change has come into effect. When representing a commuter county that is trying its very best to get people out of cars and onto buses and trains, to have something like this happen is really regressive.

I was at Portmarnock Station last week and when there was a delay to the service, I saw people come back out off the track and get back into a car, or call a relative to get a car to bring them where they wanted to go. I witnessed that when I was out there with Councillor Brian McDonagh.

We have a problem on the northern commuter line. I am not convinced we will see much change. It will be a "Let's suck it and see" approach from Irish Rail and that is not good enough. We in north County Dublin are so vulnerable, as well in other places, in terms of public transport. Another impact we have is in a town such as Balrothery, which is not served by the rail line. It is only served by Bus Éireann, through the 101 route, and that route has a capacity issue now with people being left behind at the bus stop. Towns such as Balrothery, Donabate and all up and down the northern line are expanding. The existing service was under pressure and the changes have made the service worse while the population is increasing and due to further increase. The DART+ that is coming down the line will be a game-changer but it is a long way from being delivered and right now, workers and students are being delayed, commuters are frustrated and people are getting back into their cars.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I assure the Deputy that the Minister for Transport and I recognise that transport connectivity is hugely important for people who live and work in Ireland.

What happened is unfortunate and it is not acceptable. There have been some improvements since the timetable changes on 16 September and I have listened to what the Deputy said. With regard to the restrictions between Drogheda and Connolly Station, we all know there is a single track each way with extremely limited options. Trains come into Connolly Station from Belfast, Drogheda, Dundalk, Howth and Malahide and others come in from Sligo, Longford and the local line from the M3 Parkway. Anyone who travels regularly on these trains knows the delays that are there before reaching Connolly Station. However, a railway order that has been granted for the provision of DART+ west, which will see the electrification of the line between Connolly Station and Maynooth, and that includes work at Connolly Station on platforms five, six and seven where the DARTs go from. That will provide more flexibility. There is also the DART+ north which is currently in the planning process. These changes will be happening, they need to happen and are badly needed. I agree with much of what Deputy Smith said and thank him for raising this issue in the House today.