Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter for discussion under Topical Issues today. I wish to raise a serious issue affecting the lives of many thousands of people, the local and national economy in the greater Dublin area and the personal lives of many people.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport recently announced the cancellation for the time being at least of the metro west project, due to the previous Government's mismanagement of the economy and given the situation inherited by the current Government. Although this was bad news for commuters and for the economy in general, it is now compounded by what I consider to be the carry-on in Dublin Bus.

I have learned in recent weeks of the impact of changes imposed by Dublin Bus on the citizens of the greater western area, including areas within my own constituency such as Lucan, Clondalkin, Palmerstown, Rathcoole, Saggart and Newcastle and many other areas outside my constituency.

Dublin Bus has introduced a new No. 13 bus service with little or no meaningful consultation with the citizens of Clondalkin. The No. 51 service was discontinued and this has caused considerable confusion and disruption. I spoke to some people who informed me that they waited for the No. 51 bus, saw the No. 13 bus pass by and only later realised that this was the replacement service. This is an example of the confusion which can cause great difficulties in people's lives.

In the coming weeks, Dublin Bus is planning to remove the No. 78 and No. 79 bus services to be replaced with a new No. 40 service, which will follow a new route. There has not been any adequate, meaningful consultation, notice or discussion. If mismanagement were an Olympic sport, Dublin Bus would be in line for a gold medal.

In my own constituency, the No. 26 bus route has changed without adequate meaningful consultation or discussion. The Nos. 25, 25A, 25B services have been reduced and the No. 26, when it arrives in Lucan, is generally three-quarters or completely full. The No. 66X is a wonderful service but because of its express nature it bypasses Lucan village and many of the highly developed populated areas in Lucan. When these buses arrive in Palmerstown, with 3,000 homes and more than 7,000 people, the bus service is not adequate between the hours of 7.45 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. and is often non-existent.

The Government provides approximately €25 million to €30 million a year in funding to Dublin Bus. In the circumstances, the National Transport Authority has shown little evidence of value for money when such chaos looms. Every morning, many hundreds of people from Rathcoole to Maynooth are stranded as a result of the changes in the bus services and the bus routes. Their grievance - which I support - is that there is very little meaningful or worthwhile consultation. If consultation is to be meaningful, it must involve the user of the service who is the most important person. The consultation process should also include traders' associations, the local school communities, local residents' associations and public representatives.

People are suffering more stress in the daily circumstances of their lives. The priority for the Government is to bring about a recovery in the economy and the transport needs of the people must be met. I am very unhappy at the way in which these needs are being affected.

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