Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

The Minister mentioned the increase in the rate of car ownership and said these projects cannot be carried out overnight. However, what could be done overnight to greatly improve the traffic situation is increase the number of buses. Despite the undertaking given in the national development plan, why has not one additional bus been provided for Dublin Bus since 2000? It beggars belief that the Minister would allow that to happen. The local authorities are providing extra bus lanes and reducing the amount of space on the roads for drivers. That is a good approach but it is pointless unless the extra buses are provided.

Dublin Bus cannot meet the demand that exists because it does not have enough buses. This particularly applies to the commuter belt in Meath, Kildare and Wicklow. There are growing population centres in those counties and there is huge demand for public transport. Residents are meeting public representatives and representatives of Dublin Bus to ask for new services but Dublin Bus is obliged to explain that it cannot provide new services because it does not have the buses. The Government promised 275 buses under the national development plan but only 93 have been provided. Why is that? Why can the Minister not sanction the provision of these buses, which could be on the streets in a matter of months?

See this speech in context