Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman for letting me join the meeting today. I have a couple of comments and questions around commuter fares, BusConnects, and trains in my constituency. I absolutely welcome the new fare structure and how seamless the new 90-minute fare has been between the different transport modes. It is hugely progressive and hugely positive. It is great to see further reductions now coming down the tracks, if you will excuse the pun, this month. I believe they are due to happen in May. My concern is that commuters are not necessarily seeing this fare reduction. At the moment one can buy a TaxSaver ticket for €1,150. If one was using public transport to get to and from work five days per week every working day, this would equate to €23.96 per week. This is 20% more than if one was using the TFI Leap card for two trips five days per week under the new 90-minute fare option. While the TFI Leap card is going to be more suitable for people who are still returning to the office on a phased basis or for those who are working hybrid, it means they are not getting that tax efficiency that is baked into the TaxSaver ticket policy, and which is Government policy to provide. Is this an anomaly that might be rectified or are there any plans from this perspective?

As for BusConnects, the C spine is up and running in Lucan and it was a big change for all of us there. While there are a number of areas where there have been concerns, by and large the routes are working quite well, especially the late-night route given there is a taxi shortage. However, there are underserved areas and that is a fundamental concern of mine. There is no direct link to the city centre from areas that had one prior to BusConnects. Hillcrest and Doddsborough are two such areas. That is not progressive but regressive as they used to have a service but it is now gone. Senator Currie and I had a number of meetings with representatives from the NTA and while they were very welcome it was not really meaningful engagement because nothing has changed as a result of them. People in those areas still are not served properly by a bus service. Neither are people who were promised the W8 this year, which I understand has been further delayed. That would be hugely welcome to people working in areas like Greenogue or Citywest or people from Saggart, Newcastle or Rathcoole intending to go to college in Maynooth.

On the trains, I am looking for a quick update on when the trains through Adamstown-Hazelhatch will be electrified. I am aware the NTA and the Minister are sick to their back teeth of answering this question from me but why is Kishoge train station still not open? It is there, it is built and it is working. It even has a car park. It could be used to serve people in what is a growing area but it is still not open. My final question on trains is on Hazelhatch train station which is not walking distance for many commuters, unfortunately. Most people must drive to get there or perhaps cycle. Could we look at making it a bit more of a cycle-friendly station?