Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister back to Seanad Éireann, albeit only temporarily. I thank him for taking this debate.

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

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call on the next speaker, I welcome the daughter of Senator Evanne Ní Chuilinn, Peigí, who is in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. Peigí, you are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. You might come here yourself as a Seanadóir, b'fhéidir, lá éigin.

Anois, glaoim ar an Seanadóir Imelda Goldsboro.

Imelda Goldsboro (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister to the Chamber and compliment him on the work he has achieved to date. He has hit the ground running. As spokesperson on transport, I look forward to working with him on several issues which he is aware of in Tipperary.

As an island nation with a dispersed population and an open economy, good connectivity is essential to foster continued economic growth for communities and our tourism industry. By investing in public transport, we will enhance connectivity across urban and rural areas, giving people more choice and supporting sustainable growth. Fianna Fáil is committed to a fundamental change in our transport system. Necessary improvements in climate measures impact air quality as well as our physical and mental well-being. We demand that public transport is better and, most importantly, more accessible for all. Likewise, a modal shift towards sustainable public transport is necessary for Ireland to meet our ambitious emissions reduction targets, including the target of 50% emissions abatement in the transport sector. We are taking action. Budget 2025 allocated €3.9 billion for the Department of Transport, an increase of over €418 million from 2024. This allocation means the public transport roll-out can continue apace across the country.

I need to raise a number of issues in south Tipperary, first of all our rail lines. We need to review this as a matter of urgency in Clonmel, Tipperary town, Carrick-on-Suir and Cahir. We have the facilities but, unfortunately, we do not have the upgrades that are required to make these more user-friendly and more feasible and to provide investment to allow them to become more accessible. Currently, you cannot purchase tickets at a number of these stations. People are unaware of the timetables. The number of trains passing through needs to be increased. Tipperary is a large county and the south has little connectivity with larger cities. People would avail of a regular service if provided. Many people travel for education, work, hospital appointments, etc. The current frequency is not feasible for a large percentage of users, and we need to promote and plan the potential of these areas. The Government's Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan seeks to improve mobility in rural areas by providing better connections between villages and towns, linking these areas with an enhanced regional network and connecting cities and regional centres nationwide. The plan has seen unprecedented progress, with over 100 new or improved bus services across rural Ireland launched so far. The annual patronage on the TFI Local Link services has seen a sevenfold increase since 2018. Continued investment in projects such as Connecting Ireland will benefit rural communities through expanded services on the PSO bus services across the country, as well as expanded services through the TFI Local Link network.

In Tipperary South, we have several villages that have this service and it is proving to be a lifeline for so many people. Unfortunately, it does not exist in all our villages. I am looking for funding to be applied so that the service can be expanded into the areas that do not have any public transport. In Tipperary South, taxis are not very common. This is leading to an increase in social exclusion and rural isolation and, unfortunately, it is causing an awful lot of loneliness for our elderly and vulnerable due to the lack of contact with the outside world. We acknowledge the great services that have been introduced and are very successful, such as the route 891 connecting Carrick-on-Suir to Kilkenny city, which commenced in January 2025. Route 356 Dungarvan to south Tipperary hospital has been particularly successful and is now operating eight daily return services. The CL1, CL2 and CL9 are operating in Clonmel. They have transformed our town. Route CL9 provides an early morning and late night service to facilitate onward travel to Kilkenny, Dublin city and Dublin Airport, and improved connectivity to the wider TFI network. I ask the Minister to look favourably on increasing these services in Tipperary South, and that he would review the existing rail timetable.

Mark Duffy (Fine Gael)
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The Minister is very welcome. I thank him for his work in an exciting period in Ireland's ambitions for transport. As he outlined, there are many exciting and ambitious projects being proposed at different stages across the country. BusConnects will be a very positive measure in improving connectivity and access for people across the cities. The improvements to the regional bus networks have been welcomed, while the expansion of rail services to different regions across Ireland and the reduction in fares have seen a pronounced increase in users of the services.

The Minister outlined the many ambitious plans for rail that were at different stages. MetroLink is a real statement of intent, if it can proceed as we would like, to transform the city centre and connectivity from Dublin Airport into the city. Another key project the Minister outlined coming from the all-island rail review was the western rail corridor. Being from Mayo and understanding the importance of transport infrastructure to rural communities, I cannot overstate the importance of the delivery of the western rail corridor in that first phase from Athenry to Claremorris. The track - about 33 km - is there and in public ownership. Various estimates have been made and evolve all the time because of inflation. That investment would be value for money, given that the land is in public ownership and can connect the western seaboard, a region that has been identified as lagging in terms of investment and is ranked sixth from the bottom in European regions for transport infrastructure. The west needs positive discrimination and investment. The western rail corridor is a project that can help revitalise towns and villages across the west. The land is in public ownership and can have a massive benefit for the region as a phase 1 project. In time, I would love to see it being connected to Sligo. If we can move at speed to deliver the western rail corridor in the coming years, we should set out metrics to determine whether it is feasible for the Sligo line. If and when the western rail corridor is reopened, I believe it will prove to be hugely successful and will push the business case for the continuation to Sligo.

On regional airports, in County Mayo we have Knock Airport, which is a roaring success. I compliment the team there, including Joe Gilmore, who is leading the line. Some 834,000 passengers went through Knock last year. That is an incredible figure for a regional airport. It is supporting and complementing the impressive figures from Shannon, which are at about 2 million passengers per year. Improved connectivity on our roads can also help take pressure off the likes of Dublin Airport, where travel times to the airport are being reduced constantly because of improvements in road infrastructure. The connectivity east to west from Mayo to Dublin is improving and the travel times are decreasing. The Scramoge to Ballaghaderreen road will be a great addition for improving the attractiveness of Knock Airport as a destination for people to fly form.

This is an exciting moment for transport. There are significant projects that can help connect and bring communities and people closer together and to our key infrastructure and our towns, cities and villages. I compliment the Minister's work.

At a more granular level in our towns, local transport plans have been created. I understand that, through the NTA, a lot of funding has been spent on active travel measures. Perhaps that is more the case in cities, but these towns have created local transport plans to connect schools, workplaces and communities. They need to be supported in their delivery of them. In my own town of Ballina, and as the Minister will know well, we have a local transport plan that has recommendations to help unlock the congestion challenges, which are a big issue in the town, and to do with road infrastructure like the N26, tying us closer to key pieces of infrastructure in key cities like Dublin. Key airports like Knock can have a significant and positive economic impact.

Regarding the western rail corridor and the west's connectivity, the pharmaceutical company Hollister in Ballina announced just last week an €80 million investment, supported by the IDA. Coca Cola is also based in Ballina and we have pharmaceuticals in Westport and Castlebar that can benefit a great deal from the freight lines all the way down to Foynes Port. This can have a positive impact from an economic point of view as well as for passenger connectivity.

I welcome the Minister's work in such a consequential Ministry that affects many people's lives every day. The Government is taking key steps to support what the Minister requires financially to make the transformative change on our island.Projects such as the western rail corridor, MetroLink and BusConnects, along with supporting regional airports, could have a greatly transformative effect on our whole economy and the quality of life of our citizens. The Minister has my full support for anything we can do to advocate for and support the delivery of these projects.

Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)
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I will share time with Senators Tully and Andrews.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)
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It is great to have the Minister here. I will speak on a number of key areas in transport that would begin to address the great regional imbalance that is choking Ireland's potential. The regions outside Dublin must finally be given a fair share of investment and opportunity. The M20, the motorway between Limerick and Cork, is not a luxury; it is a necessity. This stretch of road, at present the N20, is not only outdated and dangerous but it is actively stifling the economic potential of the entire southern region. Towns such as Charleville are choked with congestion while dangerous bends and poor road conditions have resulted in far too many lives lost. The figures are stark. Every year, 118 accidents could be prevented and €12.4 million could be saved. This is the human and economic impact of inaction.

Beyond safety, the M20 is about regional transformation. A Cork to Limerick motorway is not only tarmac; it is the backbone of a twin city powerhouse that could support 300,000 new jobs in the region. This is how we reverse rural decline. It is how we attract foreign direct investment, empower local businesses and build balanced prosperity throughout Ireland. Yet, this vital project is progressing at a painfully slow pace. The proposal to toll the entire motorway undermines the project from the get-go. The Government needs to think seriously about the approach to the M20 project.

Let us turn to regional airports. Last summer's High Court stay on Dublin Airport's passenger cap was not just a legal event; it was a damning symbol of a broken aviation strategy. Why has Dublin Airport been allowed to reach the crisis point it has, while the airports in Knock, Shannon and Cork remain underutilised? A smart all-island aviation policy would redistribute traffic, support tourism, enhance national connectivity and relieve pressure on Dublin but this would require vision and a Government that sees the entire country and not only the east coast.

Let us speak about rail, the forgotten piece of our national transport puzzle. The western rail corridor from Galway to Sligo and beyond is not a pipe dream. It is a strategic asset and it is high time we treated it as such. Reopening the line as part of a wider Atlantic economic corridor would help to tackle regional imbalance, offer real climate action and unlock the true potential of the west and north west. However, all of these projects, and others such as MetroLink in Dublin, are seemingly forever out of reach due to the design, planning and construction timelines. Something has gone badly wrong with our delivery of infrastructure. The timelines are out of control, taking decades in some instances. The processes are broken and with every brand-new Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Government, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Sinn Féin is clear that we will back the M20 to completion, deliver a cohesive regional aviation strategy and fully restore the western rail corridor. Real regional development is not about one-off projects; it is about a connecting vision for Ireland's future.

Pauline Tully (Sinn Fein)
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I come from County Cavan. We have no rail network and nor do Monaghan, Tyrone, Fermanagh and Donegal. The entire area has no railway. We did but the Government at that time, some 60 years ago, had no foresight and decided to end the rail service to Cavan. Not only did it do that but it allowed people to build over the rail line, take it up and sell the sleepers. I know Cavan is included in the all-island strategic rail review, and there are proposals for a connection from Portadown to Monaghan and Cavan but it is way down the line. This leaves us dependent on the roads. The road structure is very poor and is deteriorating more and more.

There is a large rural network of roads in Cavan. There is probably 3,000 km of roads. Approximately 10% of the roads should be repaired every year but there is not sufficient funding provided to do this. A minute amount is provided for local roads. I know this does not come under the Minister's current portfolio but it came under his previous one. The funding was not provided in sufficient amounts to repair the roads and keep them up to date. We had a history of poor roads in Cavan and we are going back to it. We had pothole candidates elected 20 years ago.

The 109 and 109X bus routes provide a regular hourly service from Cavan to Dublin. Some of the services go to Dublin Airport also, which is very welcome. It needs to be reliable but that is not always the case. It is frequently late and there are serious capacity issues on the 109X route returning from Dublin to Cavan in the evenings. Passengers are often left standing at a bus stop because there is not sufficient capacity on the bus. This has been raised time and again with the National Transport Authority and it still has not been rectified. It needs to be reviewed on an ongoing basis and extra capacity supplied where needed.

The Local Link network is very welcome. It continues to expand and connect local towns to a main town or to bus networks servicing other towns and larger areas outside the county. We want to see this continue to expand and facilitate more people. Stops between villages are not allowed and this is very frustrating. In the area where I live, a service goes from Cavan to Ballinagh to Kilnaleck. It stops in each of these towns but not between them. People have to go into the nearest village to get the bus so they might as well take the whole journey to Cavan in their car. If stops could be facilitated between villages, it would be very welcome.

The nearest airport to me is Dublin Airport. It is such a busy airport. We have to drive there, then park and get a shuttle bus, and then walk for a long time to get from one part of the airport to the other. When I was a child Shannon Airport was utilised far more. I recall going to Shannon Airport regularly to meet or leave relatives at the airport who were returning to the United States. I have used Knock Airport, even though it is little bit further away from me, and it is a convenient airport because people can park right beside it and walk in. Belfast airport is the same. It would be very welcome to see investment in our regional airports so they could have more capacity.

Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)
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Public transport is a very important issue for everyone in the city and throughout the country, with thousands relying on buses and trains to get to and from work and to go about their daily lives. However, our transport network has been let down by successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments, which have promised much and delivered little. Nowhere has this been clearer than with regard to the metro in Dublin, which seems to have been going on forever. Since 2002, the project has been delayed multiple times, with countless Ministers announcing that the metro is on its way only for nothing to happen. The city needs urgent action on public transport to create a safe, affordable, reliable and accessible public transport network. We need the delivery of the metro and the Luas expansion to be accelerated, as well as improving the bus network to better serve communities with cheaper fares and more regular services. I hope BusConnects will help with this.

The Luas to Ringsend has been consistently delayed by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Ringsend is an area with a rapidly growing population, particularly with 3,500 new homes to be built on the glass bottle site. There will be 10,000 new residents. The previous Government kicked the decision to deliver the Luas out by ten years. While I hear some Government backbench TDs speak about a 15-minute city, the reality is the decisions and actions of the Government will not make this possible. Expansion needs to be delivered in advance of the glass bottle site development being completed. We need the Government to think ahead and not neglect the issue and have to try to play catch up.

We also need public transport to be safer. The lack of dedicated transport police results in serious and often criminal antisocial behaviour, leaving passengers and transport workers in fear. I ask the Minister to comment on this. We all have many stories about people who are afraid to travel on the DART.The red line on the Luas can be chaotic but people have a view that the DART is safe. I know from having spoken to many people that they regularly feel unsafe and threatened on the DART.

Cycling infrastructure also needs to be significantly improved to ensure safer, more accessible options for active travel. Dublin deserves a modern, efficient and safe public transport system. The time for empty promises is over and it is time for real investment and action.

Nessa Cosgrove (Labour)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I am going to return again to the matter of the western rail corridor and the other examples of significant underinvestment and neglect relating to the rail network in the west and north west. I will be echoing much of what Senator Duffy said. Most of these matters I have raised in one form or another since I have been in the Seanad and the transport committee. I could be called a trainspotter at this stage. However, the trouble with being a trainspotter in the north west is that you are restricted to one line, from Sligo to Dublin. If you happen to be based at the end of the line, as I am in Sligo town, there is nothing to spot travelling from east to west before 9 o’clock in the morning and from west to east after 7 o’clock in the evening. All joking aside, the reinstatement of the western rail corridor and the expansion of rail services on the Dublin–Sligo line will have a huge and positive impact on the life of those living in the north west.

I wish to address three specific issues, two of which can be addressed immediately and at very little cost in the budget. The third will take a little more time. I recognise that the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Canney, has made encouraging sounds about what is possible. He has been speaking to senior management in Irish Rail, with which I have corresponded, about the catering services withdrawn from all the services on the rail network at the start of the Covid pandemic. We are aware that they have been reintroduced on the Dublin–Belfast and Dublin–Cork lines. We were promised reinstatement on the Sligo–Dublin line by the start of 2025 but that commitment has not been delivered upon. Irish Rail is blaming the NTA for the failure to deliver a sufficient budget, and Irish Rail and the NTA both assert that the catering service is a loss-making service. I do not buy that because a small, independent catering cart has been set up in Dromod, County Leitrim. If an independent person is trying to make money out of it, I do not see how it could be loss-making. Can we just figure this out? It would be a very easy win for the north west.

Another matter that could be fixed very easily concerns the fact that no train arrives into Sligo before 10.15 a.m. on a weekday. This is not good enough. We have a big problem with student accommodation for the wonderful Atlantic Technological University in Sligo. Most people start work between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. but if the train does not arrive until 10 a.m., they will not be able to get it. It also affects people with hospital appointments. It has been suggested that a train could leave Sligo empty at 4 a.m., go to Longford and then come back at 8 a.m. Irish Rail has assured me it is working towards providing an hourly service on the line and I am aware that two additional staff are to be employed in Sligo. Could these be a priority? The ATU, hospitals and general workers in Sligo claim it would be transformative if a train arrived in Sligo at 8 o’clock in the morning.

Let me talk about the western rail corridor, or the spine of Connacht, as we call it, and its reinstatement. The all-Ireland rail review states the line will be extended from Athenry to Claremorris, but can we add the line from Claremorris to Sligo? Senator Duffy and I are like broken records here talking about this. Is there an opportunity to re-examine this? Just because there is a rail review does not mean the thinking is set in stone. Can the extension be reconsidered? It is only 75 km. Since 2019, the north west has been downgraded by the European Commission to a lagging region. If we are really talking about balanced regional development, the line will be transformative. Reinstatement of the western rail corridor, the spine of Connacht, would be a wonderful legacy for the Minister to go out on. Ar aghaidh leis an obair.

Patricia Stephenson (Social Democrats)
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That is a hard act to follow.

We know public transport outside our major urban centres is, to one degree or another, poor or practically non-existent. I want to raise serious concerns about the issue of rural transport, particularly in Carlow and Kilkenny, where families are being let down time and again by a system that is underfunded, pretty complicated and failing in many cases to realise its basic purpose. In April this year, a private provider, JJ Kavanagh and Sons, removed stops at Castlecomer, Crettyard and Athy from the 717 route, which is the Clonmel–Dublin Airport route. This decision was made with no public consultation and has left several communities completely cut off from having a bus route through their towns. I have written to the NTA about this and have heard absolutely nothing in response. The State’s overreliance on private operators for what is supposed to be a public service is now generating challenges and costs for individuals who rely on so-called public service transport routes. A private provider can decide at any moment, unilaterally, to pull a route. The results for communities are isolation for older people, disruption for workers and considerable additional car dependency, which is not in line with our climate targets. We face €26 billion in fines. The Environmental Protection Agency said recently that we may reach only 23% of our emissions target, not the 51% reduction required. Instead of accepting that fines might come, maybe we should be investing some of the equivalent moneys in advance to lower our emissions.

The NTA points to Local Link, which is a really good resource, is welcome and has resulted in much access for rural communities; however, it is not necessarily sufficiently resourced to fill the widening gap left when a private provider pulls from a public route because it deems it not to be profitable. Without a properly funded national transport strategy, Local Link cannot provide a genuine alternative.

While it does not necessarily concern the Minister’s Department, there is an ongoing issue with school transport and children not getting places. Even though they are guaranteed or entitled to spaces, they are just not available. This is an ongoing issue for rural communities.

I would like to touch briefly on the issue of the train. I live on the Waterford–Dublin line. It is a really busy line and is at capacity daily in the morning and evening, with passengers standing. I do not believe it was subject to review in 2024, despite its being an incredibly busy link. We have an issue in Kilkenny at MacDonagh Junction, where the platform is too short. This is what I believe is curtailing the provision of additional carriages on the entire route. An extension is desperately needed to increase capacity on the route.

When we talk about transport, we should ask about its purpose. It is so we can go places without being in our cars. Senator Collins talked about vision and having a vision. The starting point entails asking how we use public transport. I am a train user. On a Tuesday morning, I drive to my local train station, at Bagenalstown, Muine Bheag, park my car, get the train to Houston and then get the bus here. I go back again on a Thursday. That would be a whole lot easier if the train left after 8 p.m. I realise new services have been provided but it would be lovely to be able to see my family for dinner in Dublin and then get home by train instead of having to drive home on such an occasion. This would reduce the awful congestion we see on the M50 and N7. I would love to be able to go directly to Galway or indeed Tullamore by train from where I live, but instead I must get the train to Dublin and then go from Dublin elsewhere. It would be amazing in Ireland to have the option of travelling around the country meaningfully by public transport, or of going on holiday by public transport, but that is just not what we have. I am aware it is not an easy fix but when we talk about vision and what we would love to see in the next 15 or 20 years, we should talk about rail and bus routes that actually help us, make our lives better and allow us to live in a way that is more climate friendly, sustainable and better for everyone. I actually do not believe anyone wants to be sitting on the N7 in bumper-to-bumper traffic for two and a half hours.

Public transport should be the future and should be the now. We can look back on the decisions in the past when Ireland thought it was modernising by ripping out all its rail routes. We can all agree that this was not modernisation. We need to think about long-term vision when it comes to public transport. I urge the Minister to be brave and bold in long-term planning, particularly insofar as it relates to rail routes. This country would be such an amazing place if we had reliable, predictable and sustainable transport options.

Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail)
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The Minister is very welcome to the House. If he delivers the track to Sligo, I would like him to be the one who puts the shovel in the ground for the ring road in Galway.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I would like that, too.

Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail)
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That would be the one piece that I would really like to see happen.

There is no doubt that we are completely congested at this stage. I will share the following little anecdote with the Minister. I love it when Ministers come to Galway We have to go into the university hospital to meet them and then they ask me for the quickest way to get out to another part of the city. There is nothing like putting them across the Quincentenary Bridge to get them caught for at least an hour to experience what every other person living in the city is experiencing on a daily basis. Anything the Minister can do in this space would be welcome.

It is regrettable that it is stifling from an economic growth point of view. I worry about that because we have fantastic hospitals and universities but it is a turn-off to go into the city. It is a turn-off for people to bring in the CEOs of their companies. While they have great transport coming in, either to Shannon Airport or Ireland West Airport Knock, the trouble is they might meet them in a hotel in a surrounding area or try to bring them in earlier in the morning or later in the evening to visit their sites because of the congestion. Whatever the Minister and his Department and officials can do would be greatly welcome.

I will lend my voice in support of the western rail corridor. I will not rehash it, but it needs to happen. Covid taught us one thing, namely, that what we need to do is reinvest in the rail. This is definitely the case as regards the connection from Claremorris into Athenry. That connection is there and ready. It is unfortunate that a big bridge will need to be constructed at Ballyglunin but I have no doubt that the Minister's team is looking at this as part of the report that will come back to him.

The part of east Galway that I come from does not have BusConnects, airports or much rail. I depend on good road infrastructure and the Local Link. Local Link makes a significant difference a significant difference for the young people of the area going to college in Limerick, Athlone or Galway. It was great to get the news yesterday of the Local Link connection from Loughrea to Ballinasloe and straight on to Athlone. That gives choice to people. That service runs four times a day. That is the sort of service that is needed. Where children decide they are doing third level, they have choice. They can continue to stay at home. It is not only that, though. It also provides flexibility. They do not need to buy that first car straightaway only to get down to Limerick or Athlone.

When we talk about good roads, the N65 leads into Portumna but we have been on traffic lights at Heathlawn for the past 12 months because we are waiting for the TII to draw up a little bit of a design to put into a proposal. We need consultation to move that project along.

I compliment the Minister on the positivity of his opening contribution as regards. We also need to tell the TII to stop making objections. Where the local authority grants planning permission to a young farmer on the road to Kinvara where he or she is developing the business but the TII will not allow the farmer to build a house on his or her land with his or her own gate, that is wrong. The farmer is looking to see what the next steps after the local authority gives permission only for the TII to object.

Overall, the officials handling Ceannt Station and the people on the ground in Local Link are doing phenomenal work in supporting people who sometimes feel forgotten. They are not forgotten at this stage.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Before anyone else speaks, the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, is taking over for the second half of the debate. He is in the anteroom. I will be leaving.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister very much indeed.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I have taken notes and we will be responding.

Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)
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I was going to say, "Happy birthday".

Mark Duffy (Fine Gael)
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Happy birthday, Minister.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer.

Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State, once again, to the Chamber. The Minister of State always seems to come in just before I speak but I thank him for coming in again.

In the Minister's opening statement, he mentioned the passenger cap at Dublin Airport. While I was planning to talk about balanced regional investment and the north west, I recall speaking following St. Patrick's weekend to a hotelier here in Dublin whom was I was staying with and asking how busy the hotel was. The turnover was similar due to costs, but footfall was down 25% and the hotelier was blaming that directly on the passenger cap at Dublin Airport. I welcome the Minister's comments that he is addressing that and he hopes to have a solution shortly.

Numerous other Senators, especially from the north west, have been speaking about our rail line, but few have mentioned the rail line from Heuston to Westport and Heuston to Ballina. It is an important service. It is a service that taps into many urban areas along the way that there has been significant investment in. It is a highly utilised service as well. While I echo Senator Cosgrove's call for the catering car to be included on that service again, what I would actually like to see is additional carriages on that service. I have used the service quite regularly since I was appointed to the House and, although I book my ticket, I am not one of these people who will try to move somebody out of the seat, just in case that person is a constituent, so I have often found myself standing in between carriages for a whole journey from Dublin to Castlerea. I believe there are the numbers to justify additional carriages. Senator Duffy spoke about Hollister's investment of €80 million in Ballina. By improving the services and the experience of people using these services, we will continue to attract more investment to our areas. That is one of the matters I wanted to mention.

Knock airport has been mentioned. It is expected to have in excess of 900,000 passengers this year. Last year, it had a bumper year of 834,000 passengers. It is located in Mayo but we must not lose sight of the fact that Knock airport services Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal and is highly utilised. There has been great investment in the roadways around Knock airport but we need to improve public transport to it, including access by train. That is why I welcome everyone's submission with regard to the western rail corridor.

Senator Stephenson mentioned something about a long-term vision and being ambitious. We should not only be looking at Athenry to Claremorris. We should be looking further afield at Athenry to Sligo. We should also be looking at reintegrating the north west into the national rail network, that is, Dublin to Derry and Derry to Letterkenny. If my colleague, Manus Boyle, were here, I am sure Letterkenny is what he would be solely talking about. Donegal is a beautiful part of the country. I visited a railway museum in Donegal when I was utilising services there and enjoying a summer holiday, but we should not be looking at the railway network as a part of history in Donegal. We should be looking at it as a utility to access and get more people up to that particular area. Senator Blaney is here and I am sure he will mention this as well.

We need to be ambitious. We need to look at this long term. I welcome this conversation.

Dee Ryan (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Aire Stáit to the Chamber and thank him for coming in to listen to us today. I also thank the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, for his opening remarks and for his intense listening when he was here in the Chamber.

When I thought about today and what I would like to speak about, I had a multitude of projects that I could have chosen to focus on. I could have spoken about the junction 28 Mackey roundabout improvement scheme that is badly needed in Limerick to open up access to the IDA business park there and the University of Limerick. I could have spoken about the great potential that we have for metro rail in Limerick. It requires relatively little investment in order to enable the final piece of double-tracking to be put in place and platforms to be put in place across the city, which would really give us a jolt in terms of developing our core density. I could also have spoken about or highlighted the motorway to Cork and the important economic links that enables and, indeed, the links that exist that justify it. I have written to the Minister on all of those projects and asked for his consideration to support all of them in the national development plan review but there was that chicken-and-egg dilemma as to what I would talk about. Listening to the contributions of Senators around the room, they were focusing on these links and how they could improve our regional economy, but I was asking myself where the rooster was in this debate. The Minister of State, with his background and area of expertise, does not need me to tell him that the rooster is, indeed, our international connectivity.It is our air access to the EU marketplace - 450 million individuals with whom we have the ability to trade tariff-free. Those who are not familiar with business and with our economy may be excused for thinking our economic growth is due to our success within the country. In fact, it is our membership of the EU and our ability to trade into the EU marketplace and to support foreign direct investment and make Ireland the home place for multinationals trading into the EU marketplace that have allowed us to see the economic resurgence we have seen the past decade or more and reap the benefits of growing PAYE and corporation tax receipts. If we do not look after the rooster – our international access – I am afraid we do put our economic success and further growth at risk.

I ask the Minister of State, as I did the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, to consider providing support for Shannon Airport. Dublin Airport has daily business connectivity into the holy trinity of air access in respect of business connectivity and economic development, namely, Frankfurt, Paris and Amsterdam. There are multiple flights daily from Dublin into the holy trinity. Cork Airport also has multiple daily flights into Amsterdam and Paris, and flights into Frankfurt multiple times per week. Shannon Airport, I am afraid, was only recently given, for the summer period from March until October, two flights a week into Paris. Our region is trading and operating at a marked competitive disadvantage because this does not allow our regional economy to achieve its potential. It does not allow us to achieve the population growth figures we want to achieve when we think about Ireland in Ireland 2040 and managing our spatial strategy and economic growth strategy, and managing where people will live into the future. We have set as an objective that only 25% of the 1 million additional people we expect to be living in Ireland by 2040 will be in Dublin. We only want one quarter of those to be in Dublin. Limerick and the mid-west stand ready to accept higher population growth, but we need PSO connectivity to a business hub, one of the holy trinity, and support for our regional airport.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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I commend the work done by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly on the disparity of investment between the north, west and north west and the southern and eastern regions. It is explicit and telling with regard to the investment of projects of more than €1 million or more than €20 million. Despite having 17.6% of the population, the share of investment of tenders over €20 million is 5.7% in the northern and western region. The eastern and midlands region, with 49% of the population, has a 75% share of that investment. Obviously, the capital city and certain areas will always get higher rates of investment, but there is a huge disparity between the eastern region and the west and northern region. That should be addressed through additional investment as part of the national development plan but recognising as well the importance of balanced regional development, which would be good for the northern and western region but also for Dublin. That needs to be recognised.

Connectivity is hugely important in any country for moving large numbers of people on a daily basis. It is fundamental to any developed economy in the modern world. We have to move large numbers of people in an efficient and sustainable manner, and that is not possible in large parts of the west and north west. The region ranks 218 out of 234 for transport infrastructure in the EU regional competitive index. That is a stark finding. The eastern region, by contrast, is ranked 24th. We need to address this imbalance in the national development plan.

We are all aware of the problems as they have been talked about for long enough. We need investment in solutions in a number of projects. The Galway city ring road has been talked about for so long and has been in the planning system. There is a Government commitment to it. It is necessary not just for those driving and using the roads but also to free up Galway city for public transport infrastructure. That is important, as is cycling and pedestrianisation.

Many Senators mentioned the western rail corridor. I again lend my support to that project. We have seen the success of phase 1, Galway to Limerick. Phase 2, Athenry to Claremorris, is a vital project from a passenger and freight point of view. It would also connect Mayo to Galway with a new, sustainable public transport service through Tuam, the largest town in the county, easing traffic on the approaches to Galway. If that project is not committed to in the NDP and if it does not start or is not completed in the lifetime of this Government, we might as well fire our hats at it. We are talking about it for long enough. It is a no-brainer. It is real investment in the region, it is sustainable and environmentally beneficial and it is good for the economy of the area. We have to commit to it and see action on it. We have had enough talk and reports. We have had all-island reviews. There are, I have heard, officials in the Department who would rather see this pushed out again for another decade or two. That is where Ministers come in and say, “No, that ain’t happening; this project will be delivered in the lifetime of this Government.”

Phase 3 is the Claremorris to Sligo section. Again, connecting to Sligo has to be part of the vision, as does, as Senator Scahill said, connecting onwards to Donegal as well.

Regarding the Luas, we had a presentation recently on light rail and very light rail. There is potential in Galway and I ask the Department to continue to look at the possibilities of Luas for Galway.

Alison Comyn (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State, the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and the Department for all the incredible work carried out, even in the short time the current Government has been in office, to improve connectivity, reduce transport and commuting costs, improve EV charging, increase train and bus options, and, especially in my home town of Drogheda, effectively cutting the cost of a ticket to Dublin by half. We know the DART service is well on target to extend to the town.

I speak once again, as I did in my first weeks as a Senator in February, about something very real and urgent to the people of Drogheda. Anybody who knows me knows I am like dog with a bone when it comes to issues close to my heart, and I will not let this one go. I raise again the need for a second railway station on the north side of the town and the immediate start of phase 2 of the port access northern cross route.

Let us start with the railway station. As I have mentioned before, Drogheda is the biggest town in Ireland and growing fast, especially on the north side, with an estimated 7,500 houses on the way and planned. However, we still have only railway station, located on the south side in a densely populated area. It is already hugely over-capacity, with a serious shortage of parking spaces. We have thousands of commuters heading into Dublin and Belfast every morning, many of them forced to drive across town or into the centre of town to try to catch their train. It is causing traffic chaos and gridlock. It is bad for the environment and it is making daily life hard for families. A second railway station on the north side, close to phase 2 of the port access road, would ease pressure, cut commuting times and encourage people to leave the car at home, which is what we are aiming for. It is not just a convenience; it makes real common sense.

Phase 2 is the port access northern cross route, or the PANCR road. Phase 1 was delivered. We were delighted to welcome the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, to cut the ribbon on that. It has already made a massive difference. However, without phase 2, the job is only half done. HGVs are still going through residential areas. Our town centre is clogged up. Housing and other developments are being held up. We have done the planning and the route is mapped out. It was scheduled to begin work in January of this year, so now we really need to see shovels on the ground. Drogheda is ideally placed to be almost a regional hub. The road is vital for opening up land for housing, as otherwise new developments will be landlocked, for supporting the port and for keeping Drogheda moving. It is about future-proofing the town, not just five years from now but right now.

I ask the Minister of State and all involved to make these two projects, a second train station and phase 2 of the PANCR, a priority. I understand they need to be included in the national development plan. They need to be seriously considered. Drogheda is not a little town on the outskirts of Dublin anymore. It is a fledgling city right at the heart of this region and a vital part of the M1 corridor. It deserves to have the infrastructure to match. I ask that it is given consideration and for an update on what is happening with the second phase of the port access route.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the two groups present in the Public Gallery and Visitors Gallery, who are guests of Deputy Carrigy and the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House.

Joe Conway (Independent)
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I wish to speak for a few moments on the géarchéim that is attaching to Waterford Regional Airport. I have many misgivings following a recent meeting that took place between the Minister, local TDs, Ministers of State and the chief executive of Waterford City and County Council in Waterford. When we heard the Minister was meeting representatives and the chief executive, our hopes naturally spiralled high and we thought we were going to get good news. Alas, it was another damp squib. We were told the airport would have to produce yet another business case to promote the further development of the airport, which involves widening and extending the runway to accommodate passenger jets and mid-range jets, such as the A320 and Boeing 737, which are currently in use all over Europe.

The summer of 2007 was one of international flight in Waterford and showed what could be done. That summer, we had a successful service down to Malaga and Faro with a short take-off and landing British Aerospace 146 jet, which got in and out of Waterford gan aon stró ar bith. It was immensely popular with the people in the south east because they could avoid the hassle of going to Dublin or Cork and get on the plane almost directly and fly down to the south of Europe in a couple of hours.

This was a short-lived facility because it did not go any further. Since then, we have been relying on dribs, drabs and scraps, with the airport having several carriers servicing the UK that come and go. We also now have the R117, the search and rescue helicopter, and the airport gets occasional visits from the Air Corps and executive flights. That is the extent of the traffic in Waterford.

The south east is the only region in the country that does not have an operational passenger airport. I go back to the theme we have been debating over the past month, that of balanced regional development. How are we ever to aspire to this if the south east and Waterford specifically are left with an airport that is but a shadow of its former self? I appeal to the Minister of State to use his good offices on this. From the conversations I have had with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, in the past, I suspect he is well disposed towards Waterford and would love to see the airport operational. I sense from reading between the lines, however, that he is coming across an adverse wind in Cabinet and that is why the more robust business plan has been asked for. It is to silence the naysayers in Cabinet who are not in favour of giving Waterford the go-ahead because of possible competition reasons.

I am flying the flag for the local airport. It deserves to be given the funding. The land and the planning permission has been acquired and everything is in place. All we need is the few million. In contrast to the €200 million given to Cork, which I do not begrudge, one tenth of that would see us out through the gap and into the skies.

Niall Blaney (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, back to the Seanad. I am delighted to see him being recognised for his Trojan work over the years, with him now being a Minister of State. I wish him well in his term.

I wish to raise the issue of the A5. All of today's discussion has been around bus and rail - I will come back to the rail aspect in a bit - but following the national development plan roll-out post 2000, the one route left out was the A5. There has been much lobbying over the years and I have constantly been on this since the year 2000. Eventually, Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair put money in place in 2007 and I remember being told by my two Oireachtas colleagues in Donegal in 2014 not to worry because the then minister, Conor Murphy, was in charge and this would be delivered. They instead pulled out of Stormont in 2016 on the back of an Irish Act that still has not been delivered and no one has put any beef on the bone on this.

We are now in a situation where, a little over a year ago, Sinn Féin called for the Government to provide funds for the A5. The Government has done that and it is very welcome but now, but this is a result of the incompetence of Sinn Féin and its ministers in Northern Ireland. I say "its ministers" because John O'Dowd must take more responsibility for this than the current minister, given that John O'Dowd is the man who signed off on it, knowing his own policy had been in place since 2022. It is telling that no Sinn Féin representatives are in the House today. It is telling that Pearse Doherty made a statement in the Dáil last week in which he lectured the Government on the need to spend more on rail but did not even mention the A5, which affects all of us in the north west because we have to cross the Border along the way.

It is despicable what is happening in Northern Ireland. It is time there was an approach at Government level with the UK Government. There is an awful lot of incompetence going on at present and a lack of accountability regarding our ministers in Stormont and their officials. The result of this is the A5 will be put back at least two or three years. Some of the rail Deputy Doherty called for on a cross-Border basis will also likely be pushed back to the same degree. This will leave us further behind and with fewer opportunities for development. People talk about the opportunity for balanced regional development but we certainly have not received that for many decades in the west and north west, and this situation will now prolong that situation. Some of those who portray themselves and act as though they want to see development are of the very party opposing it. It is disgraceful manoeuvring by Sinn Féin. I would like to see what our Government can do to rescue the situation because it is in need of rescuing.

With regard to rail, the House will know there is no connectivity in Donegal. The cheapest and smartest option for connectivity in Donegal, in the short term and in line with the all-island rail review, would be the upgrade of the Belfast-Derry route. This currently takes two to two and half hours of travel time. The shared island fund should be used for this . It is not that big of a stretch to have connectivity from Derry and back into Letterkenny in Donegal to bring rail services back to the county. This would give the whole north west connectivity to Belfast city, Newry, Dublin and all the other cities across the country, accommodating and adding to the all-island economy. I would welcome the Minister of State taking this back to the Department of Transport to see if it can be looked into.

Garret Kelleher (Fine Gael)
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Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Buttimer agus an Aire, an Teachta O’Brien as ucht bheith i láthair sa Seanad inniu chun cúrsaí iompair a phlé linn. Mar atá déanta ag Seanadóirí eile, ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an mbeirt acu.

I have listened with interest to all the contributions to the debate thus far and there is a common thread among many of them. This was something that was raised in a debate we had previously on balanced regional development, that is, the disproportionate lack of investment at a large infrastructural level in projects in the north-western and southern regions. Listening to the contributions of my colleagues regarding projects like the A5, the M20 Cork-Limerick motorway and the western rail corridor as well as investment in our regional airports, I sincerely hope today's contributions are looked at when it comes to the NDP.It is vital, as Senator Blaney said previously, to try to counteract the disproportionate investment we have seen in the eastern and midlands regional areas and to have "positive discrimination", which is the term that was used, towards the two regions that have been neglected.

In the same vein, I begin my contribution by raising the proposed introduction of the Luas light rail system in Cork, of which the Minister of State will be well aware. I have no doubt that when this service is delivered, it will prove to be transformational for our city and its suburbs and will give families and households in Cork the chance to have one car outside the door, or perhaps none at all, instead of two or three. While I appreciate I am stating the obvious, for the Cork Luas system to have maximum impact in getting cars off our roads and reducing traffic congestion, it must fully serve our most densely populated areas, schools, key community facilities and large centres of employment.

The published emerging preferred route of the light rail system is an 18 km line from Ballincollig town centre in the west, through Cork city centre and on to Mahon Point in the east. The fact the current proposed service ends in Ballincollig town centre is a massive error as it will not adequately serve the population of our local community or make sufficient provision for future population growth in our area. It is commonly accepted that for a light rail service to be considered a viable transport option for a local resident, a stop must be located within 1 km of that person's home. Based on the 2022 census, the current preferred route would serve approximately 11,700 people in the Ballincollig area or 58% of our town's population. In other words, it would not adequately serve 8,500 people or 42% of the current population in our community. If we then factor in the expected future population growth in the Maglin area in the south of Ballincollig, where it is expected that approximately 3,500 new homes will be built in the coming years with an expected population increase in the region of 11,000 people, the shortcomings of the proposed system are even more stark.

I had hoped to raise another issue, but I have just realised that I am running short of time, so I ask the Leas-Chathaoirleach to indulge me. It is the issue of the disparity that exists between a private bus operator and the public transport system, especially with the proposal to extend free travel to the under-nines. Given that private bus operators operate services in areas where there is no public transport alternative, I sincerely hope that the matter can be looked at and that private transport operators, 87% of whom operate outside the Dublin area, will be brought under the remit of the proposed extension to the free travel.

Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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I thank the Minister of State for coming.

This subject is close to my heart. When I became a councillor in 2016, I realised that the two biggest issues in our county were a lack of roads funding and a lack of public transport. Since then I have not stopped banging on doors looking for what the people of Cavan deserve in infrastructure. I live in Bailieborough. It is the second largest town in the county and we had one bus service, a Link bus service, that left the town to go to Kells at 9.30 a.m. That departure time meant that it was not a service for students or people going to work, so I do not know what it was. I therefore started a campaign to expose how badly served the county was with public transport, bearing in mind that Cavan does not have any rail network.

I was informed by the NTA in 2021, after four years of campaigning, that Bailieborough would get a Local Link service connecting the local towns of Shercock, Cootehill and Bailieborough with a regular bus service in Virginia that serves Cavan and Dublin. That was never implemented because the NTA decided a whole-of-Ireland rural mobility plan would be started. I felt at the time that if we were going to do it, we might as well do it right and appreciated it would take another few years. Cavan County Council held a special meeting with councillors in December 2021 and we put together submissions for the entire county. I was the lead on that and along with other councillors I also made individual submissions and encouraged local groups, such as development associations, men's sheds and hen's sheds, to do the same. I also assisted the community and enterprise section of Cavan County Council to put together its submission, which clearly showed the huge gaps in public transport in our county. There was huge engagement by people. Cavan made 53 submissions to the public consultation while Longford made three and Monaghan made six. Cavan was to the fore in getting opinions out there about how under-served we are. The connectivity is very poor.

The list of proposed new enhanced routes was launched with the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan 2023. It included six routes for Cavan, which was a high percentage of the planned routes. It was great news and we felt that it would be implemented. I had seen many plans come and go and felt this one really would happen. Of the six routes proposed for Cavan, only three have been implemented and are operational. I have a document that set pout the timelines for when the other three services were to be implemented. They still have not been implemented although the date they were to be operational was quarter 3 of 2023.

I therefore have a question for the Minister of State. There is still no direct route to Dublin from Bailieborough and there is no express or direct route from Cavan to Dublin either. When will the enhanced route 108, the proposed extension from Bailieborough to Canningstown and Cootehill be operational? I want a timeline for its commencement. It was proposed the new Local Link service from Cootehill, Shercock and Bailieborough to Virginia would commence in quarter 3 of 2023 and it is still not operational.

I support Senator Blaney in what he said about the A5 and N2 routes, which are extremely important for the north west as well.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I will give Senator Boyle two minutes before we hand over to the Minister of State.

Manus Boyle (Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State is welcome.

I tabled a Commencement matter about this but I did not get it through yet. To add to what my fellow Senator said, the A5 is a big disappointment to us in Donegal. For decades, we have been waiting for it. We are really isolated in Donegal and we thought this was the way forward. I attended the football game a few Saturdays ago when Donegal and Tyrone were playing. I was inundated with people asking me what will we do and how we can fix the A5. From when I was a child, all I have heard about is the A5. People have to realise that people who come from rural parts of Donegal have no other access except through the A5 and that area coming into Tyrone. It is crucial for us to move forward. We have to rescue it, however it is done.

Whoever dropped the ball on this dropped it big time. What will happen to the Ten T project in Donegal, which includes the Ballybofey-Stranorlar bypass, the Letterkenny-Lifford road and the Bonagee link? Can they progress or are they stalled now too? This has a big knock-on effect on a rural county such as Donegal. The Minister of State knows County Donegal well and is due to visit in the next few weeks. I cannot understand why this is not going ahead. We have been waiting for this for 40 years. Who dropped the ball? Was it the Irish Government or the Northern Government? Whoever did needs to stand up and be accountable.

On another matter, I thank the Government for the Local Link. The service is going well in Donegal and we are appreciative of it, but there are places that need to be added to it. Towns such as Ardara, Glenties and Portnoo need a daily service. Once a day is of no benefit. Pockets have been left behind such as Mountcharles and Doorian, my area and places around Gaoth Dobhair. Will the Minister of State have a look at them and see what he can do?

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I welcome Deputy Neville from Kildare and his guests to the Gallery. I hope they enjoy their visit. I call an tAire Stáit.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh cuairteoirí an Teachta Neville. Ar an gcéad dul síos ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil agus comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis na Seanadóirí a bhí páirteach sa díospóireacht faoin gcóras iompar poiblí agus earnáil na heitlíochta. Díospóireacht an-tábhachtach agus láidir a bhí ann ar mhaithe leis na ceantair ar fad. Tá an ceart ach go háirithe ag an Seanadóir Ó Céilleachair that the national development plan is the roadmap of travel and the trajectory we are going to be on. Therefore, it is imperative that within any balanced regional development, we have at its core communities, people and that overarching theme of connectivity. I thank the Members for the opportunity to come to the House today to speak on behalf of many different projects. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, was here earlier to discuss the importance of public transport and the strategic importance the Government places on connectivity, for example, at Shannon Airport. Senator Conway spoke about Waterford, and Senators Boyle and Blaney raised the issue of the A5. I would not mind being in Gweedore today as it would be nice in that part of the world, in fairness. Senator Comyn referred to the scale to which Drogheda has grown.

Senator Ryan spoke of the importance of Limerick. It just shows the importance of the M20 at one level, although we are perhaps partisan about that in Cork and Limerick. Senator Boyle spoke about going to or coming from the match. We have seen it coming from Limerick on the evening of the Munster hurling final and it shows the need to bypass Charleville, Mallow and Buttevant. We have seen the growth from Galway down to Limerick, so it is an option we cannot miss.

I thank the Senators. I did not hear all of the contributions as I was not here earlier. Their contributions show the depth of commitment by all in the House to meet the challenges, but also to seize the opportunities and recognise that we have travelled some distance as a country. There are young people in the Public Gallery. They have grown up in an Ireland where we have the Luas, motorways and enhanced public transport. I remember that going on a train as a young person was like going on an aeroplane today. I am making the point that we have grown and evolved as a country. However, we all agree that we have challenges that we must meet. All of the speakers have articulated a fine case for their own areas. It is about having strong public transport. It is about the network being able to meet the demands of a growing population but also the needs of people. We must remember that everything we do, as politicians, as community activists and as legislators, is about putting people first, whether rural or urban.

Senator Ryan referred to international connectivity, which is pivotal. I emphasise that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney and I are deeply committed to ensuring that we provide all people with reliable, convenient and suitable public transport and mobility options, as in the programme for Government. We also recognise that, as Senator Kelleher said, whereas there might be one or two cars at a house today, we need to reduce it to one or none in the context of the 15-minute city. We have to give those young people in the Gallery an opportunity to live in a world where we are not car dependent. That is why the programme for Government is strong in this regard.

It is also why BusConnects has been a central tenet of the National Transport Authority programme to improve public transport, and not just for Local Link, Rural Link and so on. I do not have the information for Senator O'Reilly today, so I ask her to contact the NTA in that regard. I very much welcome the commitment of the National Transport Authority on BusConnects. We have seen it in Dublin in terms of the approval of the 12 bus corridors by An Coimisiún Pleanála and the wider plan for BusConnects around the country. I know Deputy Neville, who is in the Gallery, has been a strong advocate for County Kildare in the context of progressing that kind of “beyond the Pale” mentality and joining up the dots on connectivity.

As a Government, we are firmly of the view that we need and must have balanced regional development. That means looking after Galway, Limerick, Waterford and the town of Drogheda, which was mentioned earlier, but also recognising that redesigning our bus network will be challenging and will present difficulties for everybody. That is why we have to work with people when we make our submissions. As a former student of Maynooth University, I would like to ensure that the 66 bus service takes me into Dublin quicker or that there are many transport options, for example. When I go back to Maynooth, I can see the train service there now. When I was a student in Maynooth, there might have been one or two trains to Dublin a day whereas, today, there is a conveyor belt, which is great.

The Leas-Chathaoirleach and Senator Ryan referred to Shannon Airport. I was there recently and had a very good meeting with the chief executive and members of his team. The national development plan recognises and calls for a regional airports programme that befits our country in terms of getting people in and out. The example that Senator Duffy has always championed is Knock Airport and its success illustrates how important our regional airports programme is. That means supporting smaller regional airports, looking at the schedule of passenger air services, and that the aviation sector cannot just look at Dublin. The Minister spoke about the cap. I know that airlines vote with their feet but it is not all about Dublin. That is why it is important that the regional airports programme takes cognisance of, for example, Cork and Shannon. I congratulate Cork Airport on winning the best airport in Europe with under 5 million passengers category award. It is not about being in competition with anybody. It is about all of us working within the parameters so we can all achieve a certain amount of the travelling public. I was impressed by Shannon Airport's plans on sustainability and its new solar farm, and that it has seen such a growth in passenger numbers. It is important that we all look at how we can support each airport in the development of the next iteration of the regional airports programme.

We recognise that the decision by Ryanair to have a fourth aircraft at Shannon Airport is very important. It is about the winter and the off-season, but it is also about the positive proactivity of the management of Shannon Airport with airline partners. I was very impressed by that determination on the day I was in Shannon, in particular the determination of the board and the chief executive regarding their ambition for the airport in terms of growth, passenger access and the passenger experience.

The western rail corridor was raised by Senators Kyne and Duffy, who made strong comments. It is part of the all-Ireland strategic rail review that was undertaken by the Department of Transport in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in the North. The review’s final report, published last year, has 32 strategic recommendations to enhance and expand the rail system in Ireland and the North. The recommendations relate to transforming the quality of the rail system and include the reinstatement of the western rail corridor between Athenry and Claremorris.

In the time remaining to me, I would like to make reference to the points raised by Senators Blaney and Boyle regarding the decision on the A5. Senator Boyle had a Commencement matter that referenced the A5 extensively. It is an important project. The Senator is right that somebody dropped the ball. There is a commitment by the Government to deliver that project. It is of huge importance, as the two Senators articulated very eloquently. It is about informing the Northern Ireland Executive and both Governments of the need to bring the project to fruition, but also the strategic importance of it for the people of Donegal. I will be in Donegal in the coming weeks and look forward to further engagement with people there.

I think we are all in agreement that our public transport system matters. It is about it being affordable, accessible and reliable. It is not just about getting people from point A to point B but also, as people have said in the House today, about encouraging investment, putting in housing and putting in a plan around it. It is about giving those young people in the Gallery today the freedom to go wherever, to go home or to work, and it relates to the piece about remote working.It reduces stress. Through BusConnects, Connecting Ireland, the all-island strategic rail review and the national aviation programme, we are making a difference in Ireland. We are investing in the regions.

I that all the Senators who spoke for their contributions. We will listen and engage. The national development plan is the way forward. I encourage Members to put their projects and thoughts to the different Departments because that will be the blueprint for the future. I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for her work in the Chair. I know she represented the Oireachtas with distinction this week in a different institution. I thank her for that. My information is that she was a wonderful ambassador for the Houses of the Oireachtas, so gabhaim buíochas for that.