Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State did not get to say it, but I saw when I read ahead that the key element is that it will happen by the end of April 2025. The answer to my question on the start is that it is not being delayed further. I am very glad to hear that. It is important.

I acknowledge that the NTA is responsible for the day-to-day operations, but it is not implementing Government policy. I have led delegations to the previous Minister for Transport, Jack Chambers, and to James Lawless. In that, I acknowledge Jennifer Caffrey and all the work she has done in raising these commuter issues. The NTA is also responsible for communications, which we are not getting in a timely manner. Having said that, it is set out in the response prepared by the Minister – I appreciate it is not the Minister of State’s Department – that the Department will be sticking to the end of April. That is good. However, I wish to make the point that last June, when phase 1 was implemented, which was to raise the fares in Dublin to enable the fares to be reduced elsewhere, the NTA was quick to raise the fares and it will be ten months then before phase 2 comes in. That is not good enough, but I am glad that, at least, we are sticking with April.