Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

371. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the near collapse of bus services in some parts of Dublin city at peak hours as a direct result of the Luas cross-city extension operations and increased traffic volumes, the resultant delays on these routes and the hardship inflicted on bus passengers; and if he will convene an urgent forum with Dublin Bus, Luas and trade unions representing workers to hear of the disruption and seek emergency solutions to the ongoing crisis in public transport services. [14822/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the implementation and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).

The NTA's Transport Strategy for the GDA 2016-2035 provides the overarching framework for the planning and delivery of transport infrastructure and services for Dublin over the next two decades. Addressing urban congestion on both the strategic road network and locally in certain locations is an important theme in the Strategy. The measures proposed are linked to an analysis of current and projected levels of travel demand across the region.

In 2015, Dublin City Council and the NTA jointly published the Dublin City Centre Transport Study which sets out the various measures proposed for Dublin's city centre to ensure the efficient functioning of transport within the city centre. Those two bodies, in collaboration with Dublin Bus and TII, are progressively implementing the measures set out in that document to enable the continued development and growth of the city.

Budget 2018 provides for an increase in the multi-annual capital investment for public transport with a four-year capital envelope of €2.7 billion over the period 2018-2021. This substantial multi-annual envelope includes funding of over €770 million for the BusConnects programme to fundamentally transform our bus system and to address growing congestion in the Dublin region in the short to medium term, so that journeys for bus passengers will be fast, reliable, punctual, convenient and affordable.

The recently launched National Development Plan also identifies the BusConnects programme as a key public transport investment priority for completion in the GDA over the period of the plan.

Work is ongoing on the redesign of the bus services network in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and also on infrastructure proposals for Core Bus Corridors which will be an integral part of the programme. When this work is complete, the NTA will launch public consultations that are expected to commence in April and May of this year. The results of the public consultation will inform the final decisions to be made on the network redesign, Core Bus Corridors routes and bus acquisition. The costs of the various elements of the overall BusConnects programme will be confirmed as part of the appropriate appraisal and procurement processes required under the Public Spending Code.

Noting the responsibility of the NTA in this matter, I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please inform my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.