Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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103. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for an update on a direct route from the Dublin 15 area to Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51872/25]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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I note Fianna Fáil had a meeting on drones in Dundrum.

My question relates to a direct bus route from the greater Blanchardstown area to Dublin Airport. Thousands of people work in the airport and many people have to get to it. Recently, Ongar Tidy Towns has been informed by the NTA that the expected roll-out of an N8 service has now been delayed for at least two years.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. She will be aware that such a route is planned to be introduced as part of BusConnects, which is the largest-ever investment programme in the bus system in the history of the State, funded by the Government on behalf of our citizens and managed by the NTA. Since its commencement in 2021, BusConnects Dublin has seen over 100 new double-decker electric buses enter into service across Dublin, with significant investment made in depot electrification to support the buses, as well as the implementation of multiple phases of new bus services under the network redesign. Earlier this summer, I was delighted to attend the contract signing of the first of the 12 core BusConnects corridors with construction of one to start this year and another to enter construction next year. The first is Liffey Valley to Dublin city centre, which will be a game-changer.

As the Deputy is aware, I know Blanchardstown very well. I am pleased to say that the new N8 route will connect Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, with Clongriffin via Dublin Airport. The specific timing for the introduction of the route will depend on operational readiness but it could potentially be introduced within the next year. To be clear, next year, that is, by the end of 2026, is what we are working towards, depending on operational readiness.

I am not sure where the information Ongar Tidy Towns has is from; it is obviously well meaning. This route is required. The Deputy is correct to say that thousands of her constituents work in the airport. That is why I back the airport. I want to make sure the airport can continue to grow, we can support the jobs in it and ensure there is a good public transport connection between Dublin 15 and the Dublin West area and the airport.

Residents in Dublin 15 will continue to benefit from the multiple commuter train stations in the area. They will also benefit from the significant investment planned for commuter rail services under DART+ West, which will commence construction under this Government. That is more good news for the area. I will come back in.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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Fair play to the civil servant who padded out that answer for the Minister because my question was not about BusConnects. Rather, it was about a specific issue. The Minister dealt with that issue in a couple of sentences and the information is very similar. They have been told the project will be delivered in quarter 3 of 2026, which is next year. Given that people have been told it is subject to operational readiness and the recruitment of drivers, realistically no one expects the service to be delivered in 2026. It could take even longer.

As for the problems this is causing, some of my constituents have to get up at 4 a.m. to get to the airport. It is something that takes people 15 minutes to drive to at a good time during the early morning or late at night. I have done so myself. As the crow flies, it is very close by and yet, as people do not have one direct route, they have to get two buses and travel for an hour and a half to two hours, or even longer for those who are from the Ongar area. Some 20,000 people work in the airport and, as the Minister knows, there is discussion about expanding it but people cannot get there.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I look forward to working with the Deputy in the coming weeks and months on our further plans to create more employment in the airport. As the Deputy knows, it is important that the people in my area and hers have good paying jobs to support their families and quality of life.

There is no padded-out answer here. I am putting things in context because there is a lot happening with BusConnects. Dublin 15 is undoubtedly a major growth area with a lot of new communities. We have seen a lot of development there over the past 15 to 20 years, and that is continuing. In the last Government I and the former Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, were in, we saw further substantial development of really good quality homes in that area that need to be supported by good public transport.

I can only give the Deputy an answer based on the question she put forward and the research I have done. I spoke specifically about the N8 route. Of course it will be based on operational readiness and the recruitment of drivers. We have practically full employment in this country. We want to get this route up and running. I will not make a political point but I have given the Deputy the best timeframe I can, which is that the route will be operational by the end of next year.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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A taxi from Ongar to Dublin Airport costs €50 to €65, for example. That is what passengers are being forced to spend. We could eliminate 10,000 to 20,000 car journeys immediately by introducing a direct bus route. It should be an absolute priority. Residents have suggested that the Minister might consider extending the W4 route to the airport until the N8 is finally rolled out. Realistically, they believe that could take a number of years. Such a decision would allow for typical operational slippages of approximately two years across the BusConnects roll-out.

There are 140,000 residents in Dublin 15 and 105,000 in Lucan and Clondalkin who could benefit directly from the extension of this bus service. We need this urgently in order to avoid more expense and to reduce the life hassle people who work in the airport face in trying to get there.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. I will take on board the suggestion she made on the W4 route to the airport in the interim. I have given her the best answer I can in regard to the N8 route. There are lots of good things happening all across Dublin in regard to public transport and we want to build on the progress that has been made over the past five years, no less so in Dublin 15. I will not again list all of the various capital projects that are happening. I am sure there are many public meetings being held on the basis of the significant investment that the Government is making in public transport in Dublin 15.

I will take on board the Deputy's suggestion on the W4 route to the airport and revert to her directly. I will keep the pressure on in regard to the N8. I believe in BusConnects. The programme and route redesign has been very good and we will now see the core corridors, the first of which begins construction this year. That is a really good thing. We need to improve the lot for our commuters and those trying to get to work and school and go about their daily lives. I am committed to doing that.