Lorraine Clifford-Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Chair giving me time, as I am not a member of this committee. I add my name to the expressions of solidarity with workers who experienced what was probably unimaginable terror last Thursday. They all acted very bravely. I am disappointed to hear about the level of financial loss to the transport network as a result of what happened. That will impact everybody in Dublin. I say well done, and I hope they will not have to face those scenes again.

My first question is for Dublin Bus. I live in north County Dublin and the 33X service is important for connecting north County Dublin with the city centre. There are five buses out of town from 4.15 p.m. to 6 p.m. every evening from the Custom House, and in the morning there are five buses into town from north County Dublin from 6.35 a.m. to 7.55 a.m. Two additional services were recently put on that route - one extra bus in the evening and one in the morning. That was really welcomed. I got positive feedback. However, as Dublin Bus is aware, these services are at capacity. We could do with more buses on these services. I think in particular about the buses from town to north County Dublin. The last bus leaves the Custom House at 6 p.m. That is not adequate. If you are working in any office around town, you will not generally be finished work in time to get out and get up to the Custom House to leave at 6 p.m. Is there any capacity to add extra services, in particular travelling to north County Dublin in the evening? A lot of the areas serviced by the 33X are a significant distance from the train stations and people do not have any other alternative to public transport. It is a significant distance from town. There is not good cycling infrastructure, and this is a vital service. My request is that consideration be put into running an extra service, in particular in the evening, but also an extra one in the morning because they are absolutely jammers. As I have said, it is just not adequate to have the last bus leaving town at 6 p.m.

My question for Go-Ahead Ireland is about the 197 service from Swords to Ashbourne, which serves rural north County Dublin. It is a welcome service, which returned at the start of this year, and has been well received. However, a number of people have raised an issue around the Kilsallaghan and Rolestown area. There is a bus stop near Kettle's Country House Hotel. If you are going to Swords from Ashbourne the bus does not stop there, but it does if you are coming from Swords. The people living in the immediate vicinity can get the bus in one direction, but not in the other. The next nearest bus stop is a significant walk away. This is a place with limited footpath infrastructure. There are young teenagers in the area who might be going to Swords to go to school or to meet friends. There are older people who are thankful to have free public transport, but a lady told me last week that it is no good having it if you cannot get the bus in one direction. People have to ask for lifts, or are paying large amounts for taxis. That is not feasible. I would like Go-Ahead Ireland to look at the 197 route from Swords to Ashbourne. It is a really vital service, and people living in that area have told me there was always a bus stop in both directions for the previous service that operated in the area. They want it restored. I am asking the company to work with public representatives in the area to restore that bus stop. Will they give me a commitment to examine that, and work with me? I would appreciate it.