Results 3,141-3,160 of 6,797 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: The Role of the Media and Communications in Actioning Climate Change: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the representatives for their opening statements. Could I deal with the staffing issue concerning Dublin Bus and Go-Ahead Ireland? Since the last time the representatives were here to discuss this matter, there has been significant progress. That is welcome. How many drivers does Go-Ahead Ireland need to meet its current contracted routes? Does it have a figure for the end of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: For current contracts?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. Edwards. Could the Dublin Bus representatives answer the same questions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I apologise to the witnesses for that interruption. What are the barriers to recruitment as Mr. Hann sees them? An issue has been identified around essential paperwork.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: That is a significant number, which is why I am asking that question. There are pinch points and recruitment and capacity challenges at the minute at a time when the services are expanding. Will we ever get ahead of it? What is Mr. Hann's sense of what next year will look like in terms of recruitment? Are there immediate issues he could ask the committee to raise in terms of trying to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Are there measures Mr. Hann could ask the committee to raise that could improve the delivery of those numbers?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I saw a media report. That is not resolved yet but it is an issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. Hann very much. What is the NTA's plan for public transport for the city for Christmas? We have seen already that Christmas parties are back on. There are issues with the availability of taxis and public transport options, whatever they might look like. Is there a plan for Christmas from the NTA?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Did Ms Graham say from Wednesday, 14 December?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Those are not new, are they?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: They are not new for Christmas, however.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Are people aware of them? Are they well used? Could they be used better?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: The shortage of taxis is really becoming a prominent issue and we are not yet really into the busiest time, which will probably be this weekend.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: We can come back to it later but it would be appropriate to examine the nature of the taxi service and industry. Measures were taken during the year, including changes in tariffs and extending the ten-year rule. It is important to keep the system under review to see how those incentives are working and responding.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Does the NTA monitor that? Does it know how many taxi drivers are out on Saturday night?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: What about the busy or high-demand times?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Is that surveys and so on?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: The final issue is the planned expansion of public bus services next year. We hear the recruitment challenges are being addressed to a significant degree. Where does it leave the NTA's plans for the expansion of BusConnects? The opening statement referred to reducing some service frequency in response to the driver shortage and the delay of introduction of phases of the BusConnects network...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Provision of Bus Services in Dublin: Discussion (Resumed) (13 Dec 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: The NTA's opening statement identified a new pattern with a stronger rebound in public transport use. I presume that is linked to the lower fares, and I told the Minister previously that is useful evidence for the affordability of public transport and its use, but also increased congestion. Is that the result of an increased population and more people on the move anyway? They seem a bit...