James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also want to raise the issue of BusConnects. I am aware the Minister will be here after the Order of Business and I hope that in his address on Project Ireland 2040 this issue will be a central part of it. This goes to the core of what good governance is about in terms of planning. I do not wish to be critical of anybody but there is a sense among Dubliners that this plan seems to reflect many other cities internationally that were built on grid systems, which ours was not.

There is tremendous concern in Fingal, particularly in Skerries, Balbriggan, Rush and Lusk, about the express bus service which gets people into town very efficiently and very effectively through the Dublin Port tunnel. While we await the development of metro, a critical part of infrastructure which I am sure the Minister will address this afternoon, the issue of BusConnects needs proper consultation. I know the project group is here today to discuss matters with Members and I hope to get to meet it. The idea, however, of people having to get three buses in order to reach their destination in town and to have disruption of train services, some of which I understand has been addressed due to the loss of three trains during peak hours in Portmarnock, is an indication that there needs to be greater consideration given to the services people already have. There is the unfortunate history of this not being properly co-ordinated, with buses arriving after the train leaves and vice versaand with people being left hanging around. There are more specific instances that I hope to raise with the Minister this afternoon.

I agree with others who spoke about cycling and the need to spend more money and expend more energy providing safe cycling lanes for people. Many more people would cycle longer distances to work if it was safe to do so. I come back to the issue of the greenways. I hope the Minister for Finance will reflect the need for further investment in the greenways in the budget. In the north Fingal area where we have a coastline with six or seven train stations and the whole of Dublin city on our doorstep, we could avail of safe cycling through very nice coastal greenways to the benefit of all concerned. We will be here with the Minister this afternoon to hear what he has to say and I hope he will address these serious issues.