Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State. My ask is for the Minister for Transport to liaise with Irish Rail and Bus Éireann to ensure that adequate transport is provided for all football supporters from Kerry and Mayo for the upcoming All-Ireland final.

I congratulate Kerry and Mayo on reaching this year's All-Ireland football final. I pay particular tribute to my own team, Kerry, and Jack O'Connor on their outstanding semi-final victory against our great rivals, Dublin, at the weekend. It was tremendous performance, displaying skill, determination and character, and it has again filled the kingdom with a real sense of pride and excitement. I also commend Mayo on an excellent campaign. I wish both teams every success in what promises to be a fantastic final on Sunday, 26 July.

However, as that excitement builds ahead of the biggest day in the GAA's calendar, there is again a growing concern among Kerry and Mayo supporters and others about how they will get to Croke Park. Last weekend, three additional rail services were provided for Kerry supporters travelling to Dublin, yet even the third train sold out online within 15 minutes. That train was added on the Thursday before the semi-final on the Sunday and it was just too late. That level of demand sends a very clear message that the appetite is there but the transport capacity is not. On average, a train pulling out of Tralee can transport 400 people. Twelve hundred people had been booked in by Thursday and then an extra train was put in place, carrying another 400 people. Ultimately, 1,600 were transported to Heuston. This is not just a Kerry issue or a Mayo issue; it is a national issue. We heard yesterday on the Order of Business that even Louth and Wicklow supporters had difficulties getting to Croke Park last Saturday.

The All-Ireland final is one of the largest sporting events in the country, bringing tens of thousands of supporters together. We must be prepared to think outside the box and explore every possible option to get people to Dublin safely, efficiently and affordably. This means looking beyond the standard timetable. It means considering additional rail services, extra Bus Éireann capacity, private coach partnerships, park-and-ride options and any other practical measures that can help meet the exceptional demand that occurs on occasions of this scale. Supporters should not be left scrambling for transport or be forced onto overcrowded roads because suitable public transport options are not available. Just as important, any decision on additional services must be communicated as early as possible, not just 24 hours before the game. Supporters of both sides are already making plans. Families, clubs, groups of friends and volunteers need that certainty. They need to know today, or no later than Friday, and not a few days before the game what transport options will be available so that they can organise their journeys, book their tickets and make arrangements with confidence.

Therefore, I urge the Minister for Transport to engage immediately with Irish Rail, Bus Éireann and all relevant stakeholders to assess the demand and put in place sufficient additional services for supporters from Kerry and Mayo. Early planning and clear communication will not only reduce stress for supporters but also help manage traffic, improve safety, which we all need, and ensure that everyone can focus on what should be a great celebration of Gaelic games.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir as an ábhar tábhachtach seo a thógáil. We might be a bit like Joe Canning and Dónal Og Cusack now talking about trains and buses but the Senator is right; it is an important topic. The travelling public and the supporters of Kerry and Mayo deserve certainty and require modes of transport other than cars to go to Croke Park on Sunday week.

The Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and funding but his remit does not cover scheduling or the monitoring of routes. Those are matters for Bus Éireann and Irish Rail. Nevertheless, I have spoken to both providers about public transport for the All-Ireland final, as I did last year when Cork were in the final.

The NTA has responsibility for securing the provision of public transport passenger services. Its priority is to provide scheduled public transport services on the TFI network. It works with event organisers, operators, local authorities and An Garda Síochána to provide additional transport supports where it is possible to do so. The focus of the remit of the Department of Transport and the NTA with respect to events like the All-Ireland final is to provide additional transport to support large-scale events where required and where operators are in a position, in terms of drivers, fleet and available funding, to provide an additional service. In the case of Cork, Stephen Hackett of Irish Rail in Cork has always been very proactive.

I have been assured by Irish Rail that since last weekend when the All-Ireland final between Mayo and Kerry was confirmed, work has begun to provide additional services for Mayo and Kerry supporters. In this case, for Kerry and Mayo, as the Senator rightly said, it will see a high demand for scheduled and additional services. The Senator has outlined the volume of tickets sales. This is the busiest time for scheduled intercity services anyway, given that it is peak summer time, and that is a priority. In saying that, it is also important that we look at the Monday morning services and have those trains in place, which is part of where we are going, in the scheduling of additional train services.

Irish Rail will operate additional services for supporters from both counties. I thank the Senator for raising this matter and for his ongoing advocacy on behalf of the supporters of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael.The number of extra trains will be determined by available fleet, drivers and infrastructure capacity. I understand from speaking to Irish Rail that it hopes to be in a position to confirm the number of additional services later this week - I am hoping this will be today or tomorrow - and it will advise customers as soon as these services are available to book. The Senator is correct that the travelling public, the supporter, deserves to know as soon as possible in order to make plans.

As Senator Kennelly outlined, it is expected that all additional trains will sell out very quickly, as was the case with the extra services operated for the quarter-finals and semi-finals. Dare I say it, even Kerry supporters travelled, and they are not used to travelling. As a Cork man, I will not go there today.

In the case of our friends from Mayo, Bus Éireann operates the Expressway route 22 from Ballina to Dublin. I understand from the company that the Expressway team is currently examining whether additional services on route 22 will be added on the morning of Sunday, 26 July.

The Department of Transport has ensured that significant collaboration is taking place between the National Transport Authority, NTA, and operators in order that sufficient public transport capacity is provided for major events. For example, in the last week or so, additional public transport services have been provided to service events on top of the scheduled transport services for the concerts in Malahide, the Aviva Stadium and Marley Park, as well as for the Croke Park match fixtures and events. Additional Luas tram services have been provided over that period of time and Dublin Bus provided numerous additional bus services to facilitate crowds. Additional bus services have also been added to facilitate events in Malahide Castle, the Aviva Stadium, St. Anne's Park, Marlay Park, Fairview Park and the 3 Arena. For those using toll roads, the toll booths will have extra staff. It is important that people recognise they can use their card at the tolls and should have the correct change if using cash. Using a toll tag also allows drivers to pass through the tolls quicker.

I wish both teams well on Sunday week, and I wish Limerick and Galway well this Sunday. I hope all the travelling public have a safe journey to and from the match. Go n-éirí leo go léir.

Malcolm Noonan (Green Party)
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Mayo for Sam.

Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister of State's comments and his assurance as regards Irish Rail's statement that, as soon as the all-Ireland football final was confirmed, work began to arrange additional services and the company hopes to be in a position to confirm the number of additional services later this week. I ask that the Minister of State double down with Irish Rail and Bus Éireann on whatever additional services are needed. The timing of this can take away people's fear about how they will get to Dublin. The Minister of State mentioned people travelling from Kerry to Dublin. The Kerry supporters are the most loyal supporters in the country-----

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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You cannot beat the Cork supporters.

Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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Well, we can-----

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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Without Cork, the GAA would be a poorer place.

Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)
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Unfortunately, Kerry is a very remote county. It is the most beautiful county in the country but we have people living in Ventry, for example, who need an hour and a half just to get to a train station and then have to make a four-hour journey by train to Heuston Station. I am raising my voice today to make sure extra services are put on before tomorrow to let people know they can travel from Ventry, Sneem and all over Kerry to Tralee and there will be extra capacity on the trains from there. I thank the Minister of State for his response. If we have the luck of the Cork people behind us going to Croke Park, I am sure it will be a great day out for the kingdom.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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The Senator mentioned Sneem and Ventry. He and I will remember our great friends, the late, great John Egan and Paudie O'Shea, as well as the Senator's brother Tim. I get emotional because they were great GAA people. Cork and Kerry have the best supporters of the GAA. The Senator is right that it is important we provide additional transport. I will temper expectations, however, by making the point that there is only so much Irish Rail and Bus Éireann can do, as the Senator will know. We do not have routes that would support everyone travelling.

To be fair to the NTA, it has a dedicated team which attends pre-event meetings, so we do see planning. In the case of Irish Rail, I give the example of Stephen Hackett in Cork. There is a lot of work going on there, and I am sure the same applies in Kerry.

I commit to relaying the points the Senator has made on the floor of the House, and has conveyed to me in private, to the Department of Transport. To be fair to the Senator, it was not only this morning that he has articulated this. The travelling supporters of Kerry and Mayo deserve additional transport. I will impress upon Irish Rail, Bus Éireann and private tour and coach operators the need to have extra services available.

I hope that whatever happens on Sunday week, we will have a great all-Ireland final. There are many who think that Kerry has won enough of them and that Mayo deserves to win at least one in our lifetime, but that is a different matter.

The points are well made, and the Acting Chairperson, being an advocate of public transport, will recognise that.

We congratulate Wicklow on winning the Tailteann Cup last weekend. It was a great comeback. What we can agree on is that Cumann Lúthchleas Gael brings us all together. It is a wonderful organisation and our job is to ensure we can all enjoy it. I wish the best of luck to the four teams taking part in the all-Ireland football and hurling finals in the coming weeks.