Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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212. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the ongoing issues with the reliability of the 33B bus service from Portrane to Swords which is operated by the bus company Go-Ahead Ireland, that in May 2025 busses were cancelled on 18 days of the 31 days’ services operated, leaving commuters stranded, with many having to take taxis to their destination at huge cost (details supplied); to outline, given the fast-growing population in the area, how he proposes to address this matter to ensure a reliable bus service for the people of Portrane and Donabate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35164/25]

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; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators, in this case Go Ahead.

I am aware that Go-Ahead experienced difficulties in maintaining service levels, particularly in the first quarter of this year, primarily due to a shortage of mechanics. In response, the company undertook a number of remedial actions, including flying in additional mechanics from its UK operations and securing further technical support from external sources.

I understand that the situation has since improved significantly, with fleet availability returning to normal within a relatively short period. Go-Ahead have reported that since January, 8 new engineering staff have joined the company and 129 drivers have started in the driving school. In addition, Go-Ahead have completed overseas recruitment with 10 engineers expected to start in September 2025.

The National Transport Authority monitors the performance of all public transport operators. Under existing contractual arrangements, financial penalties apply where performance falls below agreed standards, and they are also investing in a new vehicle location system for the fleet which will improve the reliability of the real time passenger information system. They continue to engage with Go-Ahead to enhance service reliability and ensure continuous improvement.

Despite recent operational challenges, the NTA is confident in Go-Ahead’s capacity and capability to effectively deliver services. Recent customer satisfaction surveys indicate that overall satisfaction with Go-Ahead’s services in Dublin remains strong, outperforming other large bus operators providing services on behalf of the NTA.

It is important to acknowledge that the broader transport sector has encountered ongoing recruitment challenges over the past 12 to 18 months, particularly in sourcing drivers and mechanics. In response, and in line with the Programme for Government’s commitment to support a skilled public transport workforce, my Department has established a dedicated multi-stakeholder taskforce to identify solutions and address these workforce challenges.

My Department and the NTA will continue collaborating with operators and customers to enhance the punctuality and reliability of services throughout the BusConnects Network Redesign. I remain fully supportive of the Government’s goals to deliver an accessible, affordable, and reliable public transport system nationwide.