Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Tá mé buíoch don Leas-Chathaoirleach as an ábhar seo, maidir le seirbhísí busanna i gContae na Mí agus thart timpeall, a roghnú don díospóireacht ar an Athló. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this important matter on the Adjournment.

In recent months, I have noticed many problems with bus services, especially in the commuter belt of County Meath. I understand these problems are also a feature of other parts of the commuter belt. The problems arise mainly with Bus Éireann. I am not here to complain about Bus Éireann, but to encourage the company to provide an even better service than at present.

It has been brought to my attention that commuters on the 109 route from as far away as Kells are unable to board buses on some mornings because the buses are full since leaving Cavan. This is not acceptable. Other passengers have boarded buses in Kells that have taken two and half hours to reach Dublin.

I have received complaints from constituents in south County Meath further down the No. 109 route and related connecting routes onto the old M3, particularly the No. 111 route from Trim and Batterstown. Some commuters cannot get onto those buses either. On three of the five days last week, at least two dozen commuters were unable to get on buses and were subsequently late for work. That is unacceptable in this day and age, particularly when one considers the prices people are paying for tickets. I understand it is ¤54 per week for a ten journey ticket from Kells and Cavan, and ¤38.50 from Dunshaughlin. An annual ticket from the Fairyhouse area costs nearly ¤1,500, before the taxsaver break. These are working people who are glad to have a job, but they find they cannot get on the buses. This is a service the State provides through Bus Éireann.

I also wish to highlight the ongoing issue regarding the town of Stamullen, which I have also raised with the National Transport Authority. Stamullen is the largest town in Ireland without a public bus service. I do not blame the current Government or the previous one for that, but that is the position. The town has grown without the service. One can walk two miles to Gormanston, where there is a fantastic bus and train service, but the buses do not go through the town of Stamullen. I have suggested to the National Transport Authority that it consider diverting a number of the buses on the Drogheda-Dublin route to go through Stamullen to give a direct service to the people. There was an initiative by the last Government under the rural transport initiative which provided a connecting service from the village to Gormanston, but it did not work out. It was too expensive. It meant an extra ¤2 or ¤3 on the price of the ticket and it was not worthwhile for people to pay it.

People in County Meath are being made late for work while some people, such as those in Stamullen, do not have a service. I understand the National Transport Authority is conducting an audit of public transport in the commuter belt. That is what the authority told me when I contacted it. The authority should examine the issues I have raised. I look forward to the Minister's response.