Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Deputies for tabling this motion and giving us the chance to have this discussion. The Minister of State said the implementation of the new fares strategy is making fares fairer. It is for some people, definitely, but for the people I represent in Dublin Fingal West, since Darragh O'Brien became transport Minister, the cost of commuting from Balbriggan and Skerries has increased by over €400 per annum. The cost for children using public transport has increased by 300%. I welcome that the NTA will look at bringing in a capped card but I can tell the Minister of State and ask him to pass on to the senior Minister that people living in Skerries and Balbriggan will not stand for being taken out of the Dublin commuter zone. They are Dubs. The Government took them out of the Dublin commuter zone and should not have done that. That was a mistake and they want it reversed. They also do not want to have to pay €440 extra for the pleasure of squashing on to overcrowded trains.

On the subject of overcrowding, in order to alleviate the pressure on the rail network, such as on the coast where I live, it is important we have reliable bus services. I attended a meeting in Lusk recently with people from Rush, Lusk, Skerries and Balbriggan. Their concern is BusConnects will not enhance the bus service; it will actually mean more people have to go on trains. They will have to pay more and the trains will get more overcrowded. There needs to be strong consultation on BusConnects. We all want it to work and we all want a more efficient bus transfer but the elimination of the 33 route will crease people trying to commute and will place unnecessary and undue pressure on the trains, which cannot take it. I would like the Minister of State to pass that message on to the Minister. Things have got worse for my constituents since he became Minister. We hope there is nothing personal in it.

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