Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I rise to welcome my relations in the Gallery. I hope they enjoy their visit to the Houses of the Oireachtas today and particularly to the Seanad.

I raise the issue of BusConnects, particularly in Limerick. There has been a delay in rolling it out. Back in 2021, Limerick Chamber, along with the business park outside Annacotty, commissioned a report which showed there was no bus connection to the business park. The nearest bus stop is 2.5 km from the business park, where there are more than 3,000 people working. Businesses carried out a survey and the chamber carried out a survey. There is huge support for bus connection between this business park and the city in order that people can get to work safely and on time in the morning. However, BusConnects seems to have forgotten about it. I ask that the Minister for Transport come to the House to discuss this all-important issue. It is about job security. Businesses cannot expand if people cannot get to work on time. It is a huge issue in Limerick. I know there is a delay in the roll-out of BusConnects and it needs to happen sooner rather than later.