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

I thank Deputy Rock and the Vice Chairman. I thank the NTA delegation for coming before us. I spoke to some of them at the launch and I would like to give some feedback on the NTA's most recent announcement.

There is still a lot of concern in west Dublin about the hub at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre and its capacity to manage the current proposal, and the number of buses going through it based on the traffic concerns. Also, there are serious concerns again about the removal of connectivity for many of the suburban communities in west Dublin. Clonee is an example and the removal of the 70 bus route, which also affects Dunboyne. Some of my Meath colleagues have concerns there as well. The 264, as has been proposed, would travel via a new gate at Huntstown Wood, which is right beside a school in a residential cul-de-sac. The proposal to provide a bus every 15 minutes in each direction will create serious safety issues and undermine the existing pedestrian permeability. That whole proposal has received significant criticism. Last month, I held a public meeting on the issue where I presented the factual basis of the plan as per the BusConnects documentation and maps. On that occasion a significant level of concern was expressed.

Similarly, the 39 bus has been removed. The whole Clonsilla Road area is very much a retired demographic who need and use the bus. The fact that we would be mandating them to switch if they wished to go to town has received a lot of negative feedback.

The business community in Blanchardstown village is very concerned. Fingal County Council is trying to enhance a lot of its own planning of urban villages and towns. The fact that the village will have no direct route to the city centre is a serious concern for businesses that are struggling at present even with the level of demand in the Blanchardstown centre. That Blanchardstown village has been left isolated in the plan is a serious concern.

There are concerns about the new 34 route that replaces the 37. People will lose connectivity with Stoneybatter, Skreen Road and the quays. Many people use the service to access the Luas and switch services.

The Hollystown area has been completely cut off in the latest proposal. There is a growing number of residential units in the area and people must walk a significant distance. At present, the 40E bus service provides some level of service to Hollystown. The fact that the service will be completely removed is of concern to the local community.

On the Navan Road, people are concerned about overall capacity. Many buses pass people by because they are full. The people who live at the bottom of Ashington and Riverston Abbey and that area, and on the Navan Road are concerned about the 220 bus being replaced with a much more infrequent service, which has been proposed.

There are issues with the peak services. Some of the replacement services are peak only. They are less frequent than the present service such as the 39X and other buses. People are concerned about the capacity of peak services. While the documentation states that the increased capacity of the spinal network will replace the peak level of demand, there is a concern that with the growing population demographic the matter will not resolve itself.

Again, there is no connection with the airport. We think that would be a viable route for the NTA to explore via BusConnects as an urban route. The current proposal is to have an urban route and to have a switch further away from the airport.

I have listed some of the feedback that I have received because I want to flag these issues with the NTA.

I am encouraging people to make submissions. My colleague, Deputy Rock, informed me that another map will be drawn up after this consultation. Is that correct? Will there be another public consultation about that map? Will its manifestation be based on the feedback received?

While there has been some wriggling of certain elements of the previous plan, the proposals for west Dublin have not adequately changed compared with other areas. That has been negatively received by the local community. Many of them have received the leaflet and are attending meetings. I am also trying to facilitate them with additional information.