Lorraine Clifford Lee (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for attending to discuss the very important matter of severe congestion on the northern commuter line which runs right through north County Dublin to bring commuters from Europe's fastest growing population area right into the city every day to work or access education and healthcare facilities. There are serious levels of congestion on the line now, in particular in and around Donabate where I live. By the time the train gets to Donabate during peak times, it is already at capacity and it is very difficult to even board. When people manage to get on, conditions on the trains are not acceptable.

Fingal is the fastest growing area in Europe and we are absorbing a lot of the housing need in north County Dublin. Planning is taking place to build thousands of houses in Donabate in particular as well as in every town and village in north County Dublin. People move to north County Dublin to access housing and a high quality of life. While that high quality of life can be had there, commuting conditions are a serious issue. People move to Donabate because there is a train station in the village which is very useful for commuting into the city. However, many people who move to the village do not realise that trains are at capacity. There has been a 5% increase in passenger numbers on the northern line year on year. People who have been living in Donabate for a long number of years are distressed at the capacity issues.

I ask the Minister to prioritise the northern line. Ring-fenced funding is required to provide extra carriages as an immediate solution but we also need more direct buses to provide for peak-time commuting to the city centre. People cannot access trains as it is and are getting up earlier and earlier just to squeeze on. It is having a severe impact on the quality of life of people in Donabate and right across north County Dublin, including Rush, Lusk, Skerries and Balbriggan, and it is not acceptable. The M1 is congested as it is and the road infrastructure around north County Dublin is at bursting point. We face a real crisis. I want the Minister to come to Donabate with me to see for himself the conditions people have to endure. People are at breaking point. I want him to see first-hand what is happening and to provide an immediate solution for the people of Donabate and north County Dublin more generally.