Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I noticed that Deputy Mitchell's face was not on the advertisement. Can she tell me when she will be on it? I would love to see how she looks on the back of a bus.

I hope the Minister, Deputy Ó Cuiv, takes the opportunity to tell the Minister for Transport that there is much appreciation of the effort he is making on transport infrastructure. I come from a bygone era in Dublin and I remember horses, trams and going back and forth to Crumlin on the bus service. I knew Crumlin in a different era to the Deputy.

I understand the challenges of public transport, and there is no question that there have been many positive developments recently. I admit that on some days I must drive in to attend the House owing to other business. There are undoubtedly challenges regarding the roads and this morning I found it difficult to get into the city centre.

There are several answers and public transport is certainly one. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle will know that I suffered a health scare some seven years ago and the cardiac rehabilitation unit in Tallaght would always wish me to point out that we should all be walking as much as possible. Like everyone else, I fail to walk enough. However, I try, and I also endeavour to use public transport. I am glad there has been so much progress in that regard in the Dublin region and the city. I find the Minister's plans very exciting.

Some Members will be aware that I live in Tallaght, the third-largest population centre in the country. I represent Dublin South-West, which includes not only Tallaght but such rural areas as Brittas and Bohernabreena, as well as other urban areas such as Firhouse, Templeogue and Greenhills. Many people talk about transport and while some of those areas are extremely well served, others are not. I do not know the degree of frustration felt in trying to secure public transport in Wexford, but even in a major population centre such as Tallaght, we suffer difficulties.

The Luas service has been absolutely tremendous. I was glad to note during the week that the number of Luas passengers on the red line had reached 50 million, a tremendous boost to my town. People are clearly using the service to enter the city from Tallaght, but many others are going out to Tallaght. I have always made the point that it needs that transport infrastructure, since there are many things that people can do. They can visit the Square, the civic centre, the National Basketball Arena, the hospital, and all the facilities that one would expect. Transport infrastructure should keep pace.

I was absolutely delighted the Government was able to announce the extension of the Luas service beyond the Square to the Tallaght west estates, Saggart and Citywest. I am often in Citywest, which is just outside my constituency. The crowd at the Ard-Fheis proved yet again how Citywest can attract such conferences, something I expect to continue. People will be able to come from the country and other parts of the city, jump on the Luas, go through Tallaght, stop for a few minutes and go out to such places as Saggart and Citywest. It is a good use of public transport, and the Minister should be applauded in that regard.

Like other colleagues, I am unable to understand why Dublin Bus keeps telling us that the success of Luas in my region means it cannot develop its services further. I ask the Minister of State to make that point to the Minister. I contact Dublin Bus every day about bus services in Tallaght. I remind Members that it is the third-largest population centre in the country, with a great many new communities having sprung up even in the last five or six years, but one cannot get a bus.

Dublin Bus maintains that the success of Luas means it cannot develop bus services. That is absolute nonsense. I am no marketing expert, but I can see the worth of developing a service around the Luas. One could jump on a bus in an estate such as Westbrook or any other in west Tallaght, Ballycullen or Kiltipper Road. Many people from outside Tallaght have come because they have heard the good news about it. Now they find getting public transport, especially peak-time buses, challenging. Dublin Bus should sort the matter out and do something positive.

The first thing I do every Thursday morning is read the Tallaght Echo. Today, there is a story about Firhouse, which is not a new community. It has been there for ever, and those houses that need bus services are well established. However, they cannot get a decent service at any time of the day, particularly peak hours, whether they wish to go into the city centre, the college or the Square in Tallaght. I am delighted with the progressive attitude shown by the Minister, Deputy Cullen, and it is important that we support that and work through the issues. However, that is really not good enough and regardless of whether we wish to be positive in any discussion on Transport 21, we must also say that something needs to be done.

I hope my constituency receives plenty of the shiny new buses when they arrive, since many people are using them. When Deputy Crowe spoke, he reminded me that we two are colleagues on the community bus forum, which is based in Killinarden in Tallaght. Each month we meet the gardaí, the local authority, community groups and Dublin Bus management and unions to ensure the safety of bus services. I made a commitment to it that at every available opportunity I would make the point that new buses must be provided to Tallaght and elsewhere in the Dublin region. Other colleagues will talk of their regions, but I wish to make the case for mine.

The Leas-Cheann Comhairle will know that the Minister has facilitated us on several occasions when through Adjournment debates and other Dáil business we raised the threat to bus services in such places as Tallaght. I am always sensitive about the fact that Tallaght is no different from anywhere else. My colleagues, Deputies Mulcahy and Martin Brady, represent areas that are also often picked on regarding such issues.

The communities in our areas are absolutely entitled to a bus service. Where people break the law, act like morons and threaten the bus service, the company and unions should not give in to them. The last thing we should do is withdraw bus services from any community. Whatever the problems, they should be dealt with and Dublin Bus has a particular obligation to work in conjunction with gardaí and the community to ensure buses keep running.

I will never accept a situation where, simply because people threaten buses or crews, which I absolutely condemn, we allow the bus service to be withdrawn. That is the last thing we should be doing. That should not happen in O'Connell Street or anywhere in the Dublin region. I hope I have the support of the House and the Minister for Transport in saying that. I hope the Minister of State will take a note of this and relate my stance to the Minister, Deputy Cullen. I will continue to make that point, and I will never give in on the subject.

There are things that one must say and criticisms one can level. However, I have been particularly energised by the Minister's work on Transport 21. We are headed in the right direction. I have reached an age where I am no longer able to walk to Tallaght every day, but I am happy to use public transport and we should be doing everything possible to support it. I look forward to giving the Minister my continued backing. He is doing a good job and, despite what some people say, delivering daily.

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