Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I note the points made by the Deputy, particularly on accessibility and lifts. It is critically important that these issues are addressed. It is critically important that everybody has a right to public transport and a right to access:to employment services, training,and childcare services. All of those are essential and key components of good functioning urban and rural areas. This is what the Government is setting out to achieve.

There has been the 20% reduction in fees and additional measures such as the 50% reduction in fares for 16 to 23-year-olds.

All of these have resulted in a significant uptake in public transport. It is fantastic. The uptake in Ireland post pandemic has been greater than that in many other European countries, and we should be grateful for that.

As regards BusConnects, the G spine, which serves areas such as Ballyfermot, Liffey Valley, Clondalkin and Islandbridge, launched in October 2022, the H spine, running from Howth to Malahide, launched in June 2021, and the C Spine, running from Maynooth through Celbridge, Leixlip and Lucan and on through the city to Ringsend and Sandymount, was launched in November 2021. A significant amount of work is ongoing but I note the serious points raised by the Deputy with regard to specific routes. It is disappointing that people are waiting at bus stops for buses that do not show up. That throws their plans for the day into disarray. It is critically important we at Government level are putting the investment in, but it also critical that bus service providers work with us to ensure those services are provided notwithstanding the challenges relating to recruitment, employment and so on, as well as the accessibility issues raised by the Deputy.

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