Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The project is named BusConnects but many people who have looked at the plans that have been presented thus far consider that BusDisconnects would be more apt. For example, under BusConnects no buses will go through the heart of Drimnagh. It is very easy for a person to sit in the United States and draw lines on a map and say that everybody will be within 450 yards of a public bus or transport service but that will not be the case in Drimnagh or Chapelizod. Five bus routes currently serve Chapelizod, which causes its own problems, but that service will be reduced to one bus every 30 minutes. Elderly persons who use the shops in Ballyfermot, the closest shopping area to Chapelizod, will have to walk up the hill to do so as there will be no bus service between those areas. The points which have been raised in regard to senior citizens' complexes, for example, are being ignored because there is a presumption by the consultant who drew up the plan that everybody is equal. Those with a disability, senior citizens and those who have no alternative but to walk everywhere as they do not have a car or easy access to public transport are being ignored by the proposals. It is obvious that such people believe there is something wrong with the proposals or that there is an ulterior motive behind them.

Like Deputy Ó Broin, the public meetings I have organised and attended on the issue have been information meetings, rather than intended to whip up a frenzy. I met the NTA and encouraged it to hold more information meetings. One such meeting is currently taking place in Ballyfermot at my encouragement. It is a pity there were not more such meetings which would have better informed the public.

The BusConnects plan seems to be at odds with much of the planning process in the city. For many years, there has been a policy of discouraging car use in the city and car parking in its environs and suburbs, which means that people have to rely on public transport. If the public transport is no longer available, people will be disconnected. I urge the Minister to look again at the proposal, as our amendment suggests.

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