Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

As I said, we are looking at plans for it this year in response to what has been a phenomenal increase in demand. That is good news. It would be very frustrating if buses passed by people because they were full. We will respond to that.

As the Deputy is aware, there are two elements to BusConnects. The first is the introduction of new routes and spines and the second is new corridors. We are now at the start of that phase. There are four projects, which include BusConnects corridors that have come out of the planning system. One may be subject to a judicial review which would delay it, but the others have gone through planning and, it is to be hoped, will go to construction. We want to go to construction this year and get all of the BusConnects corridors built. That will be transformative. Not only are we introducing new services and spines; times will increase and improve.

We are short of drivers and mechanics across cities and the country. Getting them operating more quickly will be a win-win and there will be a virtuous circle. We are at the cusp of a turning point whereby we build corridors as well as spines to speed everything up.

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