Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for providing the opportunity to talk about BusConnects. The Deputy is aware of the fundamental importance of PSO bus services in addressing congestion and contributing to tackling our climate action challenge. The PSO bus network is the backbone of the public transport system. Last year, over two thirds of the approximately 266 million passenger journeys on State-supported services and networks took place on the bus network. Of those 266 million passenger journeys, approximately 141 million journeys took place on the bus network in Dublin.

I am sure the Deputy agrees that we need to ensure delivery of an improved bus network that works best for passengers and citizens, for the environment and for our economic growth. That is the purpose of BusConnects. It needs to expand bus services, improve journey times and deliver a better passenger experience. It is being rolled out in Dublin first and will also feature in the other major cities in line with their transport strategies once developed.

BusConnects comprises a number of different elements, of which the two most commented upon have been the network redesign and the development of new bus priority measures. Last July, the National Transport Authority, NTA, published proposals for a revised network of bus services across the Dublin region. There was a large response to that consultation period, and more than 30,000 submissions were received. Among those 30,000 submissions, we all know concerns were expressed about certain aspects and suggestions on how other aspects might be improved. We have also seen a certain level of misinformation in certain quarters about the proposals as published and their potential impacts, which is regrettable. This was a public consultation exercise and the purpose of it was to engage with the public and seek their views on how things might be improved.

Following the conclusion of the public consultation period at the end of last September, the NTA commenced reviewing and assessing all of those 30,000 submissions. That review is now largely complete and a revised proposal for the bus network is under development by the NTA. It believes this revised network will incorporate measures which will take account of the vast majority of issues raised last year and suggestions put forward by the public. The NTA expects to publish the revised network for a further round of public consultation in September, and it will publish a report of last year’s consultation process and the issues raised during it.

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