Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)

I welcome the ambition to add to the capacity of Dublin Bus’s network and to make it more efficient. They are the fundamental principles of BusConnects. The benefits to the city and the wider Dublin area, all the way from the suburbs into the city centre and beyond, are enormous. However, there is still some way to go. To go back to the 73 service, buses are bunching, with two or three buses in a row and then no bus coming for 30 to 40 minutes. Again, senior citizens are left standing. The bus stop on Eden Quay does not actually show on the stop that it is the 73 service, although it shows 73 bunched on the digital display. Older citizens are unhappy using the new stops on Gardiner Street because, to be honest, they just do not feel safe after dark. While I welcome the overall thrust of BusConnects, the NTA has to look at these issues. I appreciate the Minister of State's offer to bring the issues back. I ask him to do that so the NTA can respond and actively listen to citizens, in particular older citizens who use that service every day.

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