Seanad debates
Thursday, 9 May 2024
Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters
Bus Services
9:30 am
Emer Currie (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for being here. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, has been vocal about the cost of gridlock and the priority that needs to be given to public transport, walking and cycling to help us meet our climate targets. We are investing an eye-watering amount of money - I believe it is €100 billion - in capital transport projects in the coming decades and waiting on a glut of planning decisions from An Bord Pleanála. Examples include DART+ West and BusConnects core corridors.
We know that if we build it, people will come. When we invest in giving people choices their behaviour changes. We have seen a 25% increase in the numbers using public transport, which is very positive. However, residents in west Dublin are in limbo when it comes to their bus services and improved bus links. The roll-out of BusConnects was supposed to take place this year but the latest timings from the NTA indicate it will be in quarter 2 of 2026. A launch date of 2024 for the Blanchardstown to Dublin Airport bus was committed to but has now been pushed out to late 2025. The reason I have been given by the NTA is resource availability and funding. If that is the case, I do not understand the logic of holding back on projects that can be advanced and do not have planning restrictions or infrastructural barriers.
The Dublin Airport link is top of my list. Dublin Airport has made it clear it has the stops available. I have spoken to its representatives and there is no barrier on its side. Other Dublin Bus orbital routes have been implemented, including, for example, the W4 from Blanchardstown going south to Liffey Valley via the M50. All I am asking is that a route going north on the M50 be prioritised. Dublin Airport has reduced its parking spaces because of the issue with QuickPark and we do not have a resolution to that in sight. Where are the practical and positive solutions coming from the NTA to deal with that? Dublin 15 is a 20-minute drive from the airport, but people cannot get there by public transport. Imagine the congestion a population of 80,000 people are creating as they try to get to the airport. We could have a bus link to take cars off the road but there does not seem to be the will to prioritise this route. I am worried about the information coming from the NTA regarding resources and funding for the overall project.As I said, this one can be prioritised, but I am concerned about hearing that from the NTA and the roll-out for Dublin 15 of BusConnects overall not being until 2026. In the meantime we have disappearing buses, services that have decreased and lengthy journey times, especially from Ongar where it can take an hour and a half to two hours to get into town. The 37, 39 and 39A routes all need to be prioritised in the interim and there does not seem to be a willingness to take a practical solution to services that are needed in the interim. This is affecting people's choices and it is affecting people's lives.
Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I thank the Senator for her questions, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport.
From the outset, I would like to clarify that the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport, but neither the Minister nor his officials is involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. The statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally rests with the National Transport Authority, NTA. The NTA works with the public transport operators, who deliver the services and have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters. That said, I would like to reassure the Senator that the Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options, and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal.
To support this objective, under budget 2024, a funding package of €613 million has been secured for the provision of public service obligation and Local Link services - an increase from €563 million in 2023. As the House will be aware, this package includes funding for the continuation of the 20% fare reduction on PSO services, the extension of the young adult card on both PSO and commercial bus services to include 24 and 25-year-olds, and the continuation of the 90-minute fare until the end of 2024. I can confirm that funding has also been secured to support the continued roll-out of new and enhanced bus and rail services this year.
As the Senator will be aware, the Government is committed to improving public transport – both bus and rail - and is backing up that commitment with significant investments across the network. This includes the continued roll-out of the BusConnects programme.
In 2017, NTA launched BusConnects. BusConnects Dublin is a transformative programme of investment in the existing bus system which provides better bus services to more people. The programme brings together all areas of bus investment identified in the greater Dublin area transport strategy, including enhanced and new bus infrastructure, investment in fleet and service enhancements such as higher frequency and new routes serving a wider catchment. All 11 phases of the BusConnects programme will be subject to additional Government funding.
As the House will be aware, the most recent phase of the BusConnects network redesign in Dublin, phase 5b, commenced on 26 of November 2023 and involved the introduction of the new southern orbital, radial and local routes. This latest phase of BusConnects represents an increase in service levels of 80% for the area, which makes it one of the most significant changes under the network redesign to date.
As outlined earlier, funding has been provided for BusConnects in 2024, and I understand that it is currently anticipated that the next phase of the network redesign, phase 6a, which includes E spine and associated services, will commence later this year, and that the planned O route will also commence service by year end. I am advised that a more precise launch date will be known closer to the time when the NTA has completed detailed checks on operational readiness with the operators.
The planned continued roll-out of BusConnects Dublin will involve the creation of new bus routes and improved bus frequencies to help transform the public transport network to meet anticipated growth and future demand in the region.
As the House will be aware, the PSO budget is negotiated each year with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform as part of the annual Estimate and budget processes. The 2024 PSO package of €613 million includes funding for new and enhanced public transport services, part of which was allocated to the continued roll-out of BusConnects Dublin.
It is not currently intended to seek further funding for BusConnects Dublin services during 2024 and any future funding allocations for the BusConnects programme will be negotiated with the Department for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform as part of future budgetary processes, and in line with Government policy.
Emer Currie (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for the update.
As the Minister of State will be aware from my opening remarks, I am concerned about the drift in timings and delivery. While we can say that part of this, in terms of the overall delivery of BusConnects for Dublin 15, relates to the bus corridors and planning, there are routes that could be prioritised in the meantime. The year 2026 is a long time to wait from when we first started talking about BusConnects in 2018.
We need to think pragmatically. My community is being left behind when it comes to public transport. I have spoken about the disappearing buses, the long journey times and the need for a strategic link between the wider Blanchardstown area and Dublin Airport. The airport serves people who want to travel by aeroplane on holidays and business but it is also a key employer for Dublin West. I believe that it needs some intervention at a ministerial level to say that we should be pragmatic and positive and give people better choices so that we see better change.
Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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The Minister recognises that it can be frustrating for public transport users when delays occur with the roll-out of planned new services. Unfortunately, issues such as the ongoing bus driver and mechanic shortages have continued to impact on the speed at which the public transport network can expand. However, the Department of Transport will continue to engage with the NTA and bus operators to work to identify solutions to accommodate the growing level of passenger demand across our public transport network and ensure reliable and convenient transportation for all.
I have listened carefully to what Senator Currie said and I appreciate it. The Senator has mentioned disappearing buses, long journey times and the fact that there is no direct link between Blanchardstown or Dublin 15 and the airport, and the need for such a link. Later today, I will be meeting with the Minister for Transport directly. I will discuss with him if there is anything we can do as an interim solution on those issues that the Senator has raised. If the Senator wants to correspond directly with my Department or my office, I will come back to her and give her a direct answer on it.
I thank the Senator for raising the matter.