Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I can understand the frustration. To answer the two substantive points, firstly, my understanding is that the reason for O'Connell Bridge being the point from which distance is measured, and it being as the crow flies rather than rail track distance, is that there was a desire to have an integrated system where it would be the same for both bus and rail. One would be looking to set concentric circles that, in a sense, recognise that we need to interconnect. On many occasions, one might want to get the bus to the railway station. If we had two different circles for different transport modes, whether bus or rail, that would not give that level of interconnection. That is my understanding of why Irish Rail went for that integrated approach.

Secondly, as Minister, one ultimately takes responsibility and has oversight and, in the end, power of direction of the agencies. I think it is also important to respect and support the independence of our agencies, to resource them and to set policy directions. I felt in this that it was really important that we got fares realignment. I understand the case the Chair makes for Greystones versus Maynooth, but there were also extensive and much more widespread disparities and injustices in the previous fares system. My direction to the NTA was to deliver a new, more coherent and integrated fare structure system. It has done that. It is not just Greystones, as the Chair says, that may feel this. Skerries, Straffan, Kill and other locations are just on the outside of the inner circle. Further west, Athboy, Edenderry and Monasterevin might all have a similar case if we did it on a rail-based system versus bus. There will always be some anomalies. The key issue in my mind is that we invest now in the upgrade of the Greystones to Bray track, which we are going to invest significantly in.

The other issue for the Deputy's constituents using the rail system in Greystones, as I am sure they would agree, is the long time journeys take and the infrequency of the service. I commit to investing to improve the rail experience on the DART south line - extend and improve it and increase frequency. It is not just about the fares issue, but whether we can improve and increase the level of service. I am committed to delivering that.