Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As other speakers have said, there is massive anger, dismay, concern and fear about this BusConnects proposal. Across my constituency, we have held four meetings and have another one tomorrow, Thursday. Hundreds of people fear that this will drive a wedge through their communities, their connectivity and undermine the present and existing bus service. The Minister is trying to create radial routes to channel people into central, spinal arteries which will bring them to town. That is all very good on paper but people who might have disabilities and elderly people may have to switch or go backwards to go forwards into town.

Whoever designed this in the company the National Transport Authority, NTA, tendered it to, Jarrett Walker + Associates, is trying to impose an American-like transport system on a city that cannot take it. Many people across the suburbs of this city cannot operate within that service. There was a proposal in recent years to build a spinal artery but to have it as a parallel bus service to the existing one so if people want proper connectivity through their communities, that will be enhanced and improved. This plan robs Peter to pay Paul. It takes buses from existing communities, estates and neighbourhoods and brings them into a channel, but undermines their present service. The fear emanates from there.

In my area, the 39 bus, the main service for people for many years, is being removed and abolished altogether. People are being asked to go backwards towards a new hub in the Blanchardstown Centre. Anyone who knows the Blanchardstown Centre knows there is complete gridlock at the best of times. This proposal to try to create a hub in the Blanchardstown Centre will only increase commuter times and undermine people's commute and the promotion to them of public transport.

The 37 and 38 are losing connectivity. People will have to get off on the north side of the city to switch. It is all very good on paper, but people who do not want to switch or to have their existing commute increased but want their services and frequency increased are being undermined.

The Minister is removing the 40D and 17A from a growing community, Tyrrelstown and Hollystown, which will have an isolating effect on the communities. That is an area of population growth in a west Dublin suburb, where thousands of new homes are being built, and in parts of it the Minister has not even planned for proposed growth. Are the national planning framework and future growth across the city considered?

There is another mistake. In Clonee, the 70 and 270 are being removed to two local radial routes, increasing commuting times and affecting the connectivity that we have with Dunboyne and many people who go to primary and secondary school there.

What engagement with communities was undertaken before this plan was designed? I have noticed in all the public meetings I have had that people have constructive suggestions about things that they would like to see tweaked and operational improvements that could be driven by Dublin Bus and the NTA. This is a plan that has come from the top down and is being imposed on people. It was a very cynical announcement through the public consultation process. The Minister announced it at a time when he knew people would not fully engage. They were not fooled and tens of thousands of people have had their say in this plan. The removal of the 122 on the Navan Road will mean that communities there will be completely neglected. The net result for many suburbs throughout Dublin will be an inferior bus service. It is time that the Minister and the NTA went back to the drawing board. They are trying to create a sardine service by bringing radial routes into a centralised spine, where the spinal networks can be sold off to private companies. It is important that we have a public bus system which delivers for the people who pay their taxes, so that we have enhanced community connectivity. This bus plan does not do that.

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