Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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96. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of transport surveys carried out over the public transport networks to ensure that there is adequate capacity on routes and efficiency in delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15650/26]

Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I welcome to the Gallery my son, Liam, who is taking a mid-morning break from school. He is welcome.

I wish to ask how many transport surveys have been carried out over the public transport networks to ensure there is adequate capacity on routes and efficiency in delivery; and to ask the Minister of State to make a statement on the matter, especially pertaining to north Kildare.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Deputy's son to the Public Gallery. Is his name Liam?

Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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Liam, you are very welcome to the Gallery. Perhaps he will follow in the footsteps of his dad, his uncle and his cousin. Hopefully some day he might be here.

I thank the Deputy for his question. As the body responsible for public transport planning, the NTA, along with public transport operators, conducts regular surveys of public transport capacity. To assist with the prioritisation of the deployment of additional bus capacity in the greater Dublin area, the NTA has recently developed a new business intelligence tool, using ticketing data to identify where capacity issues are being experienced across the bus network by route and time of day. For Dublin Bus, this was supplemented with 17 surveys to verify the accuracy of the results. It is intended to roll out the tool's use across the wider bus network upon the availability of all relevant data sets needed to estimate capacity and usage.

On Bus Éireann services in quarter 4 of 2025, capacity surveys were undertaken on 25 selected routes where overloading concerns were recurring. Selected sample bus stops were surveyed remotely using CCTV and camera technologies. With regard to rail and light rail capacity, in the case of Luas and Irish Rail, fleet and driver resources, as well as track capacity, are now heavily used during peak demand periods so the scope to add extra capacity at these times is limited. The next tranche of new rail fleet, including battery electric DART, is expected to come into service in 2027, at which point there will be an opportunity to add additional capacity to existing rail services.

On Luas services, TII commissions a yearly census over one sample week in October or November on both green and red lines during peak patronage periods. All tram stops are surveyed remotely using CCTV, with some in-person surveys undertaken for validation purposes. Similar annual surveys are undertaken at all Irish Rail stations, generally on a Thursday in November to reflect the busiest period on the network.

The NTA acknowledges that capacity can be a challenge. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I have also been on to the NTA about capacity issues. We continue to regularly monitor this and work closely with all operators to identify where improvements can be made. I will supply the Deputy with more information in the next part of my response.

Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit for the response. The reason I raise the issue is that in the fast-growing area of north Kildare, which has had a huge population increase, we have significant challenges when it comes to transport and public transport. As we all know, the roads, including the M4 and the N7, are full coming into Dublin in the morning. We want to give the opportunity to as many people as possible to use buses and trains. Ultimately, many of those buses and trains are full. It is good to hear that the surveys are in place, that we are assessing the capacity and that the information is there. At the same time, we need to ensure the information is shared and we understand that it gets used in the best way possible. Trains coming from Kildare in the morning can be delayed. There can be buses that do not turn up. We need to ensure those data are captured. I would like any information that the Minister of State has to be shared with us.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. He is right that the capturing of information is important. He spoke about the exponential growth in the Maynooth, Lexlip and Kilcock areas. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, spoke about the Fingal piece. The NTA is acutely aware of, and acknowledges, that the capacity issue is a challenge at times. The NTA continues to make efforts to incorporate and learn from the feedback we have spoken about this morning. It is important to recognise that, subject to planning, the recently announced BusConnects phase 7 routes should be of significant help.

I reassure the Deputy that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I, and our Department, will continue to work with the NTA to ensure the network delivers on the objectives set out and that the performances are closely monitored as we remain focused on delivering services for people, the travelling public and the customers that they can depend and rely on. The Deputy is right. It is about ensuring that people in north Kildare have a transport system that is fit for purpose and takes people off the M4, as the Deputy said. I would be happy to engage further with the Deputy, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. It is about information and data that can lead to positive outcomes for the travelling public.

Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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While we are discussing north Kildare specifically, there are a couple of projects that have been set in train. The M4 bus corridor, for example, has been built. I was recently in touch with the Minister's Department looking to ensure that we get the legislation passed so we get that bus corridor open. That would be one way to take traffic off the motorway.

DART+ South West has been delayed. We really need it because there has been that increase in population all the way down towards Naas and all along that corridor. We need to ensure we have a full, live DART system, as well as the one we are going to have from Leixlip to Maynooth and coming out to Kilcock within the term of this Government. There are a lot of positive projects in north Kildare and I am pushing for them, but we need to ensure other things, such as Local Link buses and buses to the likes of Johnstown Bridge, as well as more Bus Éireann buses, while at the same time ensuring we get DART+ South West in place in order that everything links up cohesively.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The M7 to Dublin from Carlow and Kilkenny is heavily congested. Drivers are frustrated by the traffic and the delays. The number of business vehicles using the route has increased substantially. I would like to see some action on it.

I draw the Minister of State's attention to the need for huge investment in local routes in Kilkenny city. Places like the Lyrath Estate Hotel, the Abbott facility and housing estates and nursing homes dotted around the city are not served by bus routes. I ask that the reports being submitted and the constant lobbying that is going on be recognised and that we ensure that huge investment and input will deliver extended services to all of those places and bring in towns like Graiguenamanagh, Thomastown, Johnstown and Freshford, which are being neglected.

Will the Minister of State please intervene with Iarnród Éireann regarding Kilkenny railway station? The old buildings are in an absolutely shocking state. Iarnród Éireann has shown clear disrespect for Kilkenny in terms of the appearance of the station.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I am familiar with the situation relating to the M7. Deputy McGuinness is right that it has become heavily congested and is an absolute nightmare for motorists. We need a further conversation on what we can do there. I will happily meet the Deputy on Sunday in Nowlan Park to discuss the important issue he raised regarding Kilkenny city.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I thought that in all the announcements about road projects, there might be something about the ring road for Kilkenny.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I could not get the Deputy's number, but I will happily meet with him to discuss it.

Regarding Kilkenny railway station, that is under the remit of the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, but I will get back to the Deputy on it. I certainly will work with him on the roads issue because it is very important.

Deputy Neville is right about the M4 bus corridor. It has been built and should be used. The Minister has asked his officials in the Department to expedite the relevant legislation and he hopes to have it done by the summer recess. It is an important issue. As the Deputy knows, we are seeing progress on DART+ South West. He is right to raise the issue of the M4 bus corridor because the situation beggars belief. I thank him for his advocacy and ongoing work on it. The whole ethos overarching his question is about gathering information that will support future planning and delivery of services, including roads, bus and train services for the travelling public. It is an important question because it will facilitate the development of new routes and alternatives. I hope the Department, working with the NTA, can expedite the matter.