Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleague Deputy O'Rourke for bringing this very important motion to the Dáil floor. Our island's public transport system is staffed by tens of thousands of hard-working men and women and I acknowledge that. The 2016 census recorded 13.5% of the population as having a disability. People with a disability or those with mobility challenges all too often face barriers using public transport such as broken lifts in train stations, limited wheelchair spaces or having to give 24 hours' notice to have a ramp in place. We need investment to make sure we have wheelchair access at all train stations, platforms and bus stops. This must be a priority for us all.

The transport sector accounted for 17.7% of our greenhouse gas emissions in 2021 and this must fall by 50% over the next eight years from the 2018 baseline if we are to meet our overall reduction target of 51% by 2030. About half of all transport emissions originate from the passenger car fleet, highlighting the urgent need to invest in public transport. In my own county of Meath we have the NX bus service covering Navan and Johnstown. Commuters who rely on these services are fed up to the teeth of the poor services being delivered. Late buses, no-shows, overcrowding, antisocial behaviour and generally poor service are commonplace on these routes. This is causing serious problems for people who rely on these buses and very little is being done to fix it. These ongoing issues, if not fixed, will drive people away from using public transport. Schoolchildren also struggle to get to their destinations as many have been left behind in the issuing of concessionary tickets. Bus Éireann has received more than 50 emails from me but only one has been answered. Mostly it sends automated responses. It is a joke.

Our motion also calls for the delivery of the Navan rail line. Re-establishing the rail connection to Navan will benefit commuters, businesses, tourism and the environment, ending the commuting nightmare for many, and will take thousands of cars off our roads each day. It has been estimated this line has the potential to facilitate up to 1.8 million passenger journeys per year. The Minister of State needs to come to Navan and meet me and Deputy O'Rourke. We will meet with commuters who cannot wait until 2031 for this project to start. Planning must start today, as we have allowed for in our alternative budget. A Sinn Féin Government would deliver the Navan rail line starting today.

See this speech in context