Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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76. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are plans to increase the capacity of public buses along the C spine route from Lucan; what measures are being taken to address overcrowded buses at peak times along this route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12767/24]

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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A number of residents from Lucan and Palmerstown have contacted me regarding problems they have experienced along the C spine route. Are there any plans to increase capacity or public buses along the C spine route from Lucan? What measures are being taken to address the overcrowding on buses at peak times along this route? As someone who lives on the route, I can empathise with people who are trying to get in and out of work because sometimes these buses cannot be relied on.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I thank Deputy Ward. I am aware that capacity pinch points are being experienced on certain bus routes across the public transport network, including on the C spine route from Lucan. I fully acknowledge that these issues can be incredibly frustrating for public transport users, in particular if they are left waiting at bus stops for prolonged periods due to full buses operating on the route. I assure the Deputy that this Government is firmly committed to improving public transport across the country, including through improvements in the frequency and reliability of service provision. That commitment is demonstrated across the significant service and infrastructure investments in recent years, as well as the various fare initiatives that have been introduced.

As Deputies know, BusConnects is a transformative plan to improve and expand bus services in all of our major cities. The programme is initially being rolled out in Dublin, followed by Cork and Galway and then Limerick and Waterford. Phase 2 of the BusConnects network redesign was originally launched on 28 November 2021 in west Dublin and east Kildare and included the introduction of the C spine.

I understand that additional capacity was added to routes C3 and C4 in late 2023 and that the National Transport Authority, NTA, is currently engaging with Dublin Bus on a review of the service requirements on C1 and C2. I further understand that the NTA hopes to introduce additional capacity on the C spine later this year, which should help to alleviate the issues currently being experienced on the service. While these capacity challenges are issues we must address, it also reflects the strong demand for high-quality frequent public transport that exists among the community. Projects such as BusConnects are vital if we are to meet that demand and I look forward to the Deputy’s support in its continued implementation in the coming years.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister. I will touch on the increased capacity in a moment. I received a number of emails on behalf of constituents in Clondalkin, Lucan and Palmerstown. One person said they wrote as a concerned resident of Lucan regarding the state of our local bus routes, specifically the C1 and C2 services. The person said that, as I may be aware, the recent increase in population due to new housing developments has significantly impacted the efficiency and reliability of these routes. They went on to say that the growing number of residents in Lucan has led to overcrowded buses, frequent delays and inadequate services during peak hours. They also said the situation not only inconveniences current residents but also discourages the use of public transport transportation, exacerbating traffic congestion and environmental concerns.

The person kindly requested my attention to address these issues by exploring potential solutions, such as increasing bus frequency, adjusting schedules to accommodate peak times and considering route extensions to better serve the expanding population. The person stated my efforts in advocating for improved public transport in Lucan would greatly benefit the community and contribute to a more sustainable and accessible transportation system. What plans are there to increase capacity along the C spine route? The Minister mentioned plans for C1 and C2.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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If I get onto the C spine route at my bus stop, the route is very good and it takes about 25 minutes to reach the city centre. There are bus lanes all the way. The problem is that by the time the bus gets to my stop, it is full and passes me by. I would love to be able to use public transport to get in and out of work but I simply cannot rely on the service. I am not alone. There are residents in Hermitage, Ballyowen, Abbeywood, Abbeydale, Foxborough, Arthur Griffith and as far as Palmerstown who feel the same. The buses pass them by.

When there are events on in town in the weekends, such as a Dublin match or concert, buses pass people by. The NTA needs to start forward planning for when there are events in the city centre in order that residents can access them, as well as travelling in and out of work. I received a response from the NTA which stated that increasing capacity is subject to funding. I ask that the Minister release all necessary funding so that the people of Lucan and Palmerstown can rely on public transport.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Funding is one of the constraints. Another is the fact that we need to expand the number of drivers and mechanics, as I said earlier. We have to make the public transport alternative work and that is why the Government is prioritising spending on public transport. It is not just about spending; it is also about political decisions.

I was very glad that the city council is now proceeding with taking some 60% of the through traffic out of the city centre this summer. The Deputy is correct that on his bus corridor there are good bus lanes to the city centre but when a bus gets to the city centre it is stuck in a jam because so much traffic uses the city centre as a through route rather than an access route. The decision to take measures this August to favour pedestrians, cyclists and public transport is another key measure. It is not always about financial resources; it is about a political commitment to making public transport work. In the end, that is better for everyone. People who have to drive do not want to be stuck in traffic. People who want a public transport alternative want it to be reliable. It is a win-win for everyone if we get that prioritisation right.