Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

One point is the gridlock in Dublin city causes a problem for buses as well as for everyone else and consequently, bus travel speeds are reducing all the time. In many cases, it would be quicker to walk, if possible, and it certainly would be much more efficient were one to cycle. I accept there are reasons for the decline in usage and fewer migrants using public transport appears to be an issue. Nevertheless, the modal shift that Government policy has been promising has not happened. The key point is the Minister's policies have failed and, as I have pointed out previously, the Circle Line buses have been taken off the route. More than 30 buses are sitting idle and are parked forever because Dublin Bus has put them out of business. This simply is not good enough. New thinking is needed in the Department as the Minister's policies have failed in this regard.

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