Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

161. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the recent studies, if any, carried out in Ireland, the UK or EU in relation to the benefits and or challenges of permitting private vehicles or full EVs with at least four people being transported to use bus lanes, with the appropriate signage and licensing structure, in an effort to discourage individual car use and reduce carbon and other emissions; whether this issue has been discussed with between the Minister and agencies in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4633/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The policy of my Department is that access to the bus lane network be strictly limited to buses, cyclists, e-scooter users, emergency vehicles and taxis carrying a fare-paying passenger. The purpose of bus lanes is to allow buses to travel faster and more efficiently and thus to encourage as many passengers as possible to travel by bus rather than in private cars. Permitting additional vehicles to use these lanes would lead to greater congestion which, in turn, would lead to delay and frustration for bus passengers and undermine the purpose of installing the bus lane network in the first place. It would also compromise the safety of vulnerable road users accessing the network

Accordingly I, as Minister for Transport, in line with my predecessors, do not intend to extend current bus lane access.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

162. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the changes to legislation that would be required in what sections to facilitate private motor vehicles or EVs with four or more passengers being permitted to use bus lanes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4634/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The rules on bus lane access are set out in Regulation 32 of the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 (as amended). My Department has no intention of relaxing these restrictions to accommodate private cars with multiple passengers.

Bus lanes were created - at significant expense - to provide on-street priority for bus-based public transport. Their goal is to make bus transport faster and more reliable, encouraging more people to switch from private cars to public transport. This achieves the twin goals of reducing congestion and reducing pollution.

In addition to buses, bus lanes may also be used by pedal cycles and electric scooters, who, as vulnerable road users, are safer in bus lanes than in general traffic. The lanes may also, of course, be used by the emergency services.

After the lanes were introduced, it was decided to allow taxis to use them. This concession was because taxis are a form of public transport available for on-street hire, like buses but unlike private hire limousines.

There have been many requests to allow other classes of traffic to use bus lanes. These have included requests on behalf of motorcyclists, electric vehicles, hired limousines, hackneys and animal ambulances. Such requests have been rejected. Any addition to the categories of vehicle permitted to use the lanes would reduce their efficiency in prioritising bus-based public transport. This would reduce the quality and level of service for commuters travelling by bus and significantly compromise the safety of vulnerable cyclists and scooter users.