Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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526. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to report on the work of his Department to address anti-social behaviour on public transport. [20872/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Anti-social behaviour is a broad societal issue, to which public transport is unfortunately not immune, and it is those passengers and staff who regularly use and work within our public transport network who are most directly impacted by any safety or security incidents that may occur on the network.

There is a strong commitment under the Programme for Government to create a Transport Security Force under the NTA, which would operate and have similar powers to Airport Police and Customs Officers.

Work in my Department is ongoing around identifying the necessary legislative proposals to progress this, in conjunction with the NTA.

Across the network, all public transport operators are continuing to expend significant resources introducing measures to counter the impact of antisocial behaviour. For example, all services are now fully fitted with CCTV cameras, various text alert systems and control centres have been introduced.

The Department of Transport is also continuing to work closely with industry stakeholders to identify measures to improve passenger safety across the public transport network. And in this regard we have established a public transport safety working group, with representatives from the public transport operators, the commercial bus sector, the NTA, unions, An Garda Síochána, the Department of Justice, and passenger representative groups.

We will continue to engage with operators and unions on the matter, and will continue to work with all stakeholders to provide safe, sustainable public transport.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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527. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to report on the estimated timeline for the delivery of the light rail tram 5 Luas extension from Brides Glen to Bray, County Wicklow. [20873/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including light rail.

As the Deputy may be aware, the NTA published the Transport Strategy for the GDA 2022-2042 was published in January 2023. The strategy sets out a statutory framework for transport investment across the region over a twenty-year period and provides a clear statement of transport planning policy for the GDA.

An extension of the Luas green line from Brides Glen to Bray is part of the Strategy’s medium-term proposals for development and delivery within 2031-2036 and is part of a number of proposed expansions to the Luas network over the lifetime of the strategy. The project is being developed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in collaboration with the NTA. As part of the project's development, TII intend to commence a detailed capacity assessment study of the existing Luas Green line later this year, to help ensure the Green line can cater for the additional passenger demand should the Luas line be extended from Brides Glen to Bray.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the development of public transport infrastructure in the GDA, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.