Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

BusConnects has caused great upset and anxiety in local areas across the Dublin region and communities across the city are in fear of being left behind. Any plan to improve transport services has to connect people with services, work and their local areas. It cannot disconnect communities and that is the worry in many areas of Dublin.

There is a consultation process in train at the moment and that was only extended when the NTA came under pressure to do so. Sinn Féin Deputies, Senators and councillors in Dublin have been doing great work in their localities, engaging with people on the ground and with the consultation process.

It is important to remember that we are talking about public transport. The State funds Dublin Bus and now a private British company to provide public service transport to people in the greater Dublin area. The NTA has a duty to ensure that it fulfils its obligation to the public when new routes are being planned. We accept there is a need to improve services but it needs to be done in an inclusive and community focused way.

Common sense is also needed. People having to get three buses for the sake of saving a few minutes on paper is not a solution. It is unacceptable for any community to be left behind by BusConnects. It must be about providing an excellent bus service for all who need it, including the elderly, people with disabilities and commuters.

At this late stage, we are not calling for the consultation to be scrapped. There is just over a week left of the consultation. Thousands of people have taken the time to engage with the process. However, our amendment calls for further scrutiny after that process has concluded. We want the revised proposals to go before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport for scrutiny. The committee can and should facilitate hearings with representatives of communities where people have objections to the proposals and then take a decision on what parts of the plan, if any, to retain and what parts to change. A further consultation may be required at that stage, depending on the response of the NTA to the objections raised. If the NTA is not willing to listen, the BusConnects project will have to go back to the drawing board. I am sure Fianna Fáil will have no objection to that proposal.

See this speech in context