Results 28,061-28,080 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bus Services (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I fully accept what the Deputy said about there being occasions when someone is left at the bus stop, the real-time information not being accurate and the bus not appearing or being full. We can never be fully satisfied with the service. We have to really improve the payments system and the online monitoring system and accelerate the provision of road space in order that we can improve bus...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bus Services (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: If we take BusConnects in Dublin as an example, we have been introducing spines that are reorganising the routes and are designed to improve connectivity, and we now have to follow up with the corridors and build the physical infrastructure to improve bus times and make conditions for cycling and walking better. The evidence is that when we put in these new spines, straighten the routes and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: This Government is absolutely committed to improving public transport throughout the country, as is demonstrated through the significant service and infrastructural investments in recent years as well as the various fare initiatives that have been introduced. Over recent years we have reduced average fares on all public service obligation, PSO, services by 20%, helping people with...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: It is true we have challenges in getting bus drivers and mechanics across all networks and all bus operators. We are addressing that. Availability of mechanics is very tight. As with many of the systems in our economy, we are at full employment. It is a challenge but we are addressing that. When bus passengers feel frustrated where a bus is cancelled, there is an immediate regulatory...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: For the past two years, this Government has delivered a new or enhanced rural bus service every week. The numbers have doubled in the past year so I do not agree with Deputy Tóibín’s analysis in terms of inability to deliver new services. I also fundamentally disagree if he is saying it is acceptable that a car would be in the bus lane. It is not. That is illegal and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The National Transport Authority's transport strategy for the greater Dublin area, which I approved early last year, sets out a framework for transport investment across the region over a 20-year period from 2022 to 2042 and provides a clear statement of transport planning policy for counties Meath, Dublin, Louth, Kildare and Wicklow. Having a transport strategy is vital to ensure we assess...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: No.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I agree it takes us too long to build public transport projects and all projects in this State. Our planning and legal system and other elements are part of the problem. The timescale the Deputy mentioned is far too long. I understand from Iarnród Éireann that we could and should have a railway order by 2027 and can start construction after that. Construction would take three to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: We have just started funding the design team, which is the first thing that has to be done.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Yes, but we cannot construct without planning permission. We need a railway order. Legally, we have to get that first.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Yes, but we have to get the design first and we have set up the team to deliver that. We can go to construction once we get the railway order. There is a shortfall in funding. This is often very contentious because representatives from various constituencies come to me and ask me to fund X, Y and Z. That funding should prioritise public transport because it has been totally underfunded...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Further to what I was saying a moment ago, I fully agree that we need to encourage more people to use public transport. That is why we are investing in significant service and infrastructure improvements as well as funding various fare initiatives that have been introduced in recent budgets which complement the heavily discounted fares already available for under-18s on PSO services....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy quotes our policy from April 2021, but he should look at what has happened since then. For a student, the 50% reduction is in effect a 60% reduction because it also benefits from the wider 20% reduction. If people in college who use public transport are asked what has changed in the last few years and whether they notice that change, they say "Yes". That was delivered thanks to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I am very glad about the Green Party policy we introduced whereby 10% of funding is going for cycling and walking, which has never been done before. That is delivering. I would welcome the Deputy cycling down from Tallaght on the new green route, which is going to be spectacular.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: We will start concluding it this year, joining up south Dublin with Dublin city centre. That is Green Party policy being delivered. It was also Green Party policy that introduced in the programme for Government the 2:1 ratio between public transport and roads in the remaining capital budget. There was nothing like that before we came into government. That is also part of what we need to....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: People Before Profit councillors are going to vote against it, I am told.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: If the position has changed, it will be good news.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Policies (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I ask the Deputy to come back to me and let me know.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy is right that antisocial behaviour on our public transport systems is a real scourge. I fully recognise that those who regularly use and work within our public transport network are directly impacted by any safety or security incidents that may occur on the network. I reassure the Deputy that Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland both take the safety and security of passengers and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy's example is very good and an important one. I am aware of the situation in Bawnogue. In January of this year there were a number of incidences whereby drivers did not go through certain estates for fear of some of the issues I mentioned earlier. There was a real threat of detour of all these routes. I am glad that my understanding is that that has not happened. That is...