Emer Currie (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for being here. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Ryan, has been vocal about the cost of gridlock and the priority that needs to be given to public transport, walking and cycling to help us meet our climate targets. We are investing an eye-watering amount of money - I believe it is €100 billion - in capital transport projects in the coming decades and waiting on a glut of planning decisions from An Bord Pleanála. Examples include DART+ West and BusConnects core corridors.

We know that if we build it, people will come. When we invest in giving people choices their behaviour changes. We have seen a 25% increase in the numbers using public transport, which is very positive. However, residents in west Dublin are in limbo when it comes to their bus services and improved bus links. The roll-out of BusConnects was supposed to take place this year but the latest timings from the NTA indicate it will be in quarter 2 of 2026. A launch date of 2024 for the Blanchardstown to Dublin Airport bus was committed to but has now been pushed out to late 2025. The reason I have been given by the NTA is resource availability and funding. If that is the case, I do not understand the logic of holding back on projects that can be advanced and do not have planning restrictions or infrastructural barriers.

The Dublin Airport link is top of my list. Dublin Airport has made it clear it has the stops available. I have spoken to its representatives and there is no barrier on its side. Other Dublin Bus orbital routes have been implemented, including, for example, the W4 from Blanchardstown going south to Liffey Valley via the M50. All I am asking is that a route going north on the M50 be prioritised. Dublin Airport has reduced its parking spaces because of the issue with QuickPark and we do not have a resolution to that in sight. Where are the practical and positive solutions coming from the NTA to deal with that? Dublin 15 is a 20-minute drive from the airport, but people cannot get there by public transport. Imagine the congestion a population of 80,000 people are creating as they try to get to the airport. We could have a bus link to take cars off the road but there does not seem to be the will to prioritise this route. I am worried about the information coming from the NTA regarding resources and funding for the overall project.As I said, this one can be prioritised, but I am concerned about hearing that from the NTA and the roll-out for Dublin 15 of BusConnects overall not being until 2026. In the meantime we have disappearing buses, services that have decreased and lengthy journey times, especially from Ongar where it can take an hour and a half to two hours to get into town. The 37, 39 and 39A routes all need to be prioritised in the interim and there does not seem to be a willingness to take a practical solution to services that are needed in the interim. This is affecting people's choices and it is affecting people's lives.