Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 13 November 2025

Public Accounts Committee

Appropriation Accounts 2024
Vote 31 - Transport
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2023
Chapter 9 - Appraisal of Rail Project Investments
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2024
Chapter 21 - Collection of Motor Vehicle Taxes
Financial Statements: Motor Tax Account 2024

2:00 am

Photo of Joe NevilleJoe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I get it. If people are buying fewer vehicles, they will not be applying for the residential grants. I was just wondering about the infrastructure because people obviously have fears about range. The way to resolve that is obviously to put more charging points in place.

I will jump to a different issue. I am a TD for north Kildare. I had a group of students in today and I asked them what the main topic is for them. I figured I knew what their answer would be. I was intrigued that these 16-year-old transition year students said the single biggest issue for children and teenagers living in Maynooth is traffic. It is the same for the kids from Celbridge and even Clane. The main issue for Kilcock is the need for DART+. How are we dealing with that? Are we dealing with these areas in conjunction with the local authorities? Is the Department consistently engaging with the local authorities? How will we get to a point where we will be able to put in the critical infrastructure we require for fast-growing areas? I am sure there are also issues elsewhere. There is a need for a second bridge in Celbridge, a relief road in Maynooth and a DART+ service to Kilcock. These are all key issues. Even in Clane, another bridge is already required. These are key infrastructural issues. I know we have development plans coming but, as Deputy Eoghan Kenny alluded to earlier, housing is being built. How can we get those projects sooner rather than later because we are often waiting far too long?