Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Creegan and Ms Graham. I am sorry I am late and I did not hear the other exchanges. I will speak to BusConnects and the issues we are having. I engaged with Mr. Creegan on the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre and the proposal to have it as the transport hub. In Dublin 15 one can see the gridlock now because of the Christmas shopping period but there is planning for a potential transport hub there. The upgrade of the exchange has been mentioned. Some of the infrastructure proposals around bus lanes are welcome as they will address congestion matters and the connectivity of our bus network. The route issue is being parked while other elements are being progressed but in many ways these are intertwined.

Are there plans for alternative bus lanes aside from those that have been mentioned? If a spinal bus network is being planned, which is what is outlined, with very little mention of other bus lane development, what are the plans for alternative bus lanes in village areas outside the spinal routes? What is the capital plan for those? If the route system committed to is be amended, there must be capital expenditure to address congestion issues where there are existing radial routes connecting with towns. Will there be a future phase of this bus corridor process in addition to what has been announced? This is linked to the spinal proposals from the route system but if there are no provisions for any additional bus lanes, it may potentially undermine the route system.

As Deputy Ellis mentioned, the changes to routes have caused significant concern across communities. One of the designers, Jarrett Walker and Associates, indicated that minor changes to the route system would collapse the plan as designed. Has Mr. Walker been sidelined in the route system design and, if so, who is redesigning the route?