Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

100. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the poor performance of many bus services provided by a company (details supplied) recently; the way he and the NTA will ensure a better, more reliable service for travellers in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9417/25]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In recent weeks the performance of one company, Go-Ahead, which operates bus routes across Dublin, has been widely criticised. At the same time Go-Ahead is being rewarded. It has successfully tendered to operate new bus routes. Does the Minister understand the frustration commuters feel at not getting the service that should be delivered, and at new services being awarded to that same company? Will the Minister tell us what tangible actions he and the NTA are taking to improve the commuter experience?

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am aware of the poor performance issues on certain routes operated by Go-Ahead in the greater Dublin area. I highlighted this myself. It was brought to my attention my many commuters.

As the Deputy knows, public transport service obligations are provided by both State and commercial operators under contract with the National Transport Authority. I assure the Deputy that the performance of all these public transport operators is closely monitored by the NTA as part of contractual arrangements in place between it and the operators. I reassure the Deputy that I recently met with the NTA to discuss a range of public transport issues, including specifically these recent performance issues. The NTA fully acknowledged that an inadequate level of service was provided on certain routes operated on their behalf by Go-Ahead Ireland in recent weeks and it has been working closely with that operator to rectify the situation. The Deputy probably knows this already, but I understand that the issues arose due to a shortage of mechanics within the Go-Ahead operations. Upon the occurrence of the issue, various remedial measures were taken by Go-Ahead, including bringing in additional mechanics from Britain and obtaining additional support from other sources.

I have been advised that the situation has improved significantly and fleet availability within the Go-Ahead operations has now been restored to sufficient levels. I understand that the company has an ongoing mechanics recruitment campaign recruitment campaign and is continuing to invest in an apprenticeship program to train new mechanics and it is considering further recruitment initiatives to strengthen their mechanic resources.

Fundamentally the reliability of our bus services requires the type of bus priority measures we will introduce under BusConnects. This year will see construction start on the first of the BusConnects Dublin core bus corridors, with Liffey Valley and Ballymun-Finglas both expected to commence, and I look forward to the support of the House as we implement this transformative programme.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The reputation of this company has taken a real pounding because it is not meeting the services it committed to. The commuter experience is a key part in determining demand for public transport. People are telling their friends and family that they cannot rely on route X or route Y. It is negative in terms of encouraging people to make that shift to public transport. I have always felt the NTA needs to put a greater focus on the issue of the commuter experience. That is why in our recent manifesto we proposed the idea of an office of punctuality and reliability in the NTA that would have the ability to look route by route to get into the micro issues of the blockages on individual routes. Will the Minister consider resourcing an office of punctuality and reliability in the NTA so we can get a better focus on good quality journeys? The issues we are talking about now are not just once off and are not recent. They are long term, and they need a long-term response.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have impressed on the NTA the real importance of being customer and user focused. A lot of time is spent, and rightly so, on expanding our bus network and investing in infrastructure. However, existing routes need to be supported. I agree with the Deputy. The passenger or customer experience is critical to ensuring other people use public transport. Thankfully, because of the work done by the previous Government and the former Minister, Eamon Ryan, supported by the Deputy, and by me, in Cabinet, we are seeing significant increases in those using public transport. We want to see more, and we want to build on that success. Certainty around reliability is critical and so is real-time information. The TII live app has been a frustration for people too. They are dependent on the bus operators to key into their own apps and then it is fed into one. There will be a new system coming in early next year of one combined real-time data. That is a massive frustration because people cannot make a decision as to whether a bus is turning up or not, or on whether to try to change their journey.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Sticking on that idea of the commuter experience, one proposal I welcome in the new programme for Government is the proposal for a transport security force. Many of us who have had a negative experience on public transport, particularly because of the location as you can be isolated in a train or Luas carriage, know it can be hard to get out of those situations. That is why we need a transport police. That is something the Green Party suggested in its manifesto. Will the Minister tell us about his ambition for this particular force? When does he expect to first see officers in trains or on buses? What scale of force is he thinking about, and is it just for buses or does he see it on all types of services around the country?

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to update him on this. It was a Green Party commitment in its manifesto. It was a Fianna Fáil commitment as well that we have a transport security force and transport police supported by colleagues in the programme for Government. Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Regional Independents have agreed that measure, and it is an important step forward that that be done. We are already working on it. We will require legislation. The transport security force will sit under the NTA. I will establish it. I have already had discussions with the Minister for Justice, Deputy O'Callaghan. I am waiting for options papers on that, but we have commenced the work already. The sooner it is the better, frankly. There have been changes made by the previous Minister for Justice as well with regard to Garda hubs in transport areas and that has been welcomed. That will be expanded. To answer the Deputy's question on where the transport security force would operate, I would see it operating initially on our rail and Luas lines. It will operate on buses, but we will need to scale it up. We will have to look at how we scale it up. We need to underpin it by legislation. Recruitment will also have to happen and An Garda Síochána will be a crucial part of it, but we are working on the establishment of the transport security force as we speak.