Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh agus a Sheanadóirí. I thank Senators for the opportunity to engage with them on the topics of public transport and aviation. I am looking forward to their perspectives and input. I am confident that we all agree it is essential that the Government continue to invest in our public transport services and network and that we are supportive of the Government's commitment to delivering an accessible, affordable and reliable public transport network throughout the country. I also look forward to discussing aviation and the strategic importance that the Government places on all of our airports, including our regional airports, particularly Shannon as regards the mid-west region and nationally.

This Government is progressing a number of major projects that will significantly improve Ireland's public transport system, including BusConnects in all of our cities. BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in the bus system, providing better services for our citizens and removing barriers to work, education and leisure across our cities. In Dublin, the main infrastructural element comprises the core bus corridor schemes. These corridors will provide over 200 kilometres of enhanced bus and cycling infrastructure in our capital city. I am pleased to say that An Coimisiún Pleanála has approved all 12 core bus corridor applications in Dublin. Construction on the first of these core bus corridors, which runs between Liffey Valley and Dublin city centre, is set to start later this year. It is a significant milestone that we can see BusConnects and the core bus corridors going into construction.

BusConnects is already providing improved sustainable services to commuters in Dublin through the roll-out of redesigned routes and electric buses. The preliminary business case for BusConnects Cork is with my Department and under review. As a significant project, I expect to bring it this autumn to the major projects advisory group at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and then to the Cabinet for approval. In addition, the redesigned bus networks for Galway and Limerick were finalised in December 2023 and for Waterford in January of this year. I expect to see them rolled out in the coming years as resources allow.

Our national aviation policy commits to optimising the operation of the Irish airport network to maximise Ireland's connectivity to the rest of the world. The connectivity of our network is essential for our continued economic development, for attracting and sustaining foreign direct investment, and for facilitating tourism while also keeping us connected with our friends and family abroad. I am pleased to share with the House that Shannon Airport is on a strong growth trajectory, with passenger figures from January to June showing a 7% increase on the same period last year. This builds on the growth of passengers in 2024, with passenger numbers recorded at about 2.1 million. This represented a 7% increase on the previous year and was the first time in 15 years that over 2 million passengers were reached at that airport. I am aware there have been calls for the Government to seek to redirect traffic from Dublin Airport to the possible benefit of other airports. Traffic distribution rules are governed by European regulations and, under those regulations, following consultation with interested parties, including air carriers and airports, member states may look to adopt such rules between airports that meet specific conditions. Several member states have adopted such rules where they have cities or conurbations served by multiple airports, for example Amsterdam, Milan and Paris. However, our airports at Dublin, Cork and Shannon would not meet the conditions to distribute traffic in accordance with this EU regulation. Therefore, the operation of air services to, from and between these airports remains a commercial decision for airlines in Ireland.

This is an important opportunity to restate the Government's position on aviation. The aviation sector is critical for this country. We punch way above our weight as a small island nation, not just within the European Union but worldwide as well. Dublin is the fifth-best connected airport in Europe and operates as a transport hub. We can grow numbers at all our airports and we should do that. We are seeing Cork Airport grow substantially, with a €200 million investment announced for it. Dublin Airport is growing as well, and I expect very shortly a decision from An Coimisiún Pleanála with regard to the night flights. That is a very important decision that we await with anticipation. That will clear one of the two blockages that are there. Colleagues will be aware of the programme for Government commitment with regard to the removal of the cap at Dublin Airport. That cap is stayed right now due to the ECJ case. We have invested heavily in Dublin. I remember back to 2008, when the second terminal in Dublin Airport was built. I attended that opening. There were many critics, both at political level and across society, who said the second terminal would be a white elephant and would not be used and that we would not be able to receive additional business in through it. We see now that Dublin Airport will need to continue to grow to facilitate passenger numbers. With the second runway now not fully operational but built, it gives the ability for Dublin to grow to 60 million passengers a year. This year we expect those passenger numbers to be more than 36 million. It is not growing one airport at the expense of another; we have to continue to support Shannon, Ireland West Airport Knock and Cork.

With regard to rail, my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in the North led the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, which was published in July of last year. It is a ground-breaking report and sets out a strategic vision for the development of the rail system right across the island of Ireland. I am pleased to say that included among those 32 recommendations is the reinstatement of the western rail corridor between Claremorris and Athenry. The reinstatement of this line has the potential to support both rail passenger and rail freight services, allowing a direct route for freight services from Ballina and Westport to ports on the south coast that avoid the more congested part of the rail network. This route would also reconnect Tuam to the railway and enable direct passenger services between Galway and Mayo, thereby supporting regional development in the area. The Department of Transport is working with a range of stakeholders to bring forward the rail review's recommendations for further analysis and progression. In this context, my Department is supporting Iarnród Éireann's ongoing assessment of the western rail corridor from Athenry to Claremorris, and I expect to receive a report on the matter this year. We are also working with the European Investment Bank and other stakeholders in considering how best to sequence and implement the recommendations of the rail review, with a view to optimising their development for passengers and wider society. This work with the EIB has included the preparation of a project prioritisation strategy. That strategy has been broadly agreed by the project steering team and will be published later this year.

As regards the regional bus network, we are strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options, and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. Under the Connecting Ireland programme, 240 towns and villages have been connected to the wider public transport network since 2022. As part of the capacity, punctuality and reliability plan, Bus Éireann has reviewed in excess of 200 routes since January of this year to improve the punctuality and reliability performance on all routes and will continue to monitor service delivery levels across our bus network. The Bus Éireann Limerick fleet transitioned to full electrification operation of the city network from 27 April this year, including full electrification of the city fleet and the depot.

I thank Senators for this opportunity to speak about the public transport system and the aviation system. We are in the midst of fundamental change in our public transport system that will give people right across the country so much more freedom and opportunity for their education, their work and even their free time. We saw last year record passenger numbers and public transport journeys of about 330 million, and we want to build on that further. We are seeing an expansion of the public transport offering, particularly in rural Ireland. We know we need to do a lot more there. BusConnects will be critical with regard to our cities, and all 12 of those schemes are now through planning, five of them unencumbered. Seven of them are held up by way of judicial review, and infrastructural projects continue to be held up because of objections. I ask those people who look to object or who do object to those projects, some for very valid reasons, to look at the bigger picture, the wider picture. Yes, there will be disruption from time to time. We also expect very shortly a decision from An Coimisiún Pleanála on MetroLink, which will be the most significant national project to be delivered in decades, servicing the north County Dublin area right the way through the airport and into the city. We expect that decision to be made in the coming weeks.

I look forward to the contributions from Senators. I thank them for tabling this item of business and I look forward to the engagement today.