Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom tacaíocht a thabhairt don rún seo. Tá sé ciallmhar ó thaobh na todhchaí, na timpeallachta, tráchta agus costas teaghlaigh agus oibre. This is a significant time for public transport. My home city of Cork is one of the areas in which there will be a big focus on trying to shift people from relying on their cars to using public transport more. We are currently in the middle of consultations on BusConnects. I believe BusConnects is a good idea and it can work but, for that to happen, it is important that the NTA engages with communities, listens to them, takes on board their feedback and operates in a flexible way. My discussions with the NTA thus far have led me to believe there is a willingness to work with communities and to adjust in order to take local concerns into account, and I welcome that.

However, it is possible that some of the confusion, issues or design defects could have been avoided if there was a permanent NTA presence in Cork. If we are looking at BusConnects, light rail and everything else connected to the Cork metropolitan area transport strategy, CMATS, the proposal put forward by me and the Cork Chamber of Commerce through many years, of a delivery office for the NTA in Cork, is a logical one.

Another point that arises in the context of BusConnects is that although the potential is undoubtedly significant, bus drivers in Bus Éireann have told me it does not have anywhere near enough staff to deliver the kind of frequency that is envisaged. It is vital that we avoid situations such as those highlighted by Deputy Brady, where we end up relying on private contractors, some of which are not reliable enough. It is vital that we ensure Bus Éireann has enough drivers to ensure this is delivered.

CMATS has several good elements but it is inadequately ambitious in terms of suburban rail. The outer suburbs are well served under it, as is east-west. The north-south connection, however, is a missed opportunity. A significant amount of traffic crosses the city every day. Under CMATS, large commuter populations in places such as Douglas, Carrigaline, Ballyphehane and Togher will not be served but they could have been.

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