Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

The TFI app has a star rating of 1.4 in the app store, and that is pretty damning. The Minister of State might remember that the last time we were here, we exposed that in one year, 2022, only €97 was spent enhancing Dublin Bus services in Dublin West. Since then, I have had a commitment that €700,000 will be spent in 2025 on addressing capacity and punctuality issues on routes 39A, 37 and 38. I had previous commitments here about route 70. That investment cannot come soon enough, and we actually need more now.

I welcome the confirmation that the new automatic vehicle location system will undergo a pilot. It had been mooted for this year, but now it is to be early next year, with the full roll-out thereafter. I would like to hear more information about that pilot. In what areas will it work, how will it work, and will customers be a part of it? I suggest using Dublin West. The new system can rebuild trust in the bus network, with no guesswork and no contradictions. Real-time information must mean real accountability.

See this speech in context