I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 119 together. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht na gceisteanna tábhachtacha. Aontaím léi faoi chathair na Gaillimhe. The National Transport Authority is currently developing the Galway metropolitan area transport strategy in conjunction with Galway City Council and Galway County Council. It will replace the existing Galway transport strategy the Deputy referred to, which was adopted in 2016. It is important to note that while the development continues, investment in Galway's transport network continues. It is taking place in line with the existing strategy. The Deputy will no doubt be aware of, and welcome, the funding the Government has made available to support the redevelopment of Ceannt Station, the expansion of Oranmore Station, the progression of BusConnects Galway, delivery of active travel projects in the city and county on a scale we have not seen before and the opening of the Moycullen bypass. As part of the development of the new strategy, mode-specific analysis in the form of a light rail feasibility study and a strategic roads feasibility study will form part of the analysis used to inform the development of the multimodal GMATS, alongside recommendations for active travel, bus, rail, roads and demand-management measures. The light rail feasibility study was published by the NTA on 30 October 2024. That feasibility study is not a stand-alone document and has been published for information only. The feasibility study does not identify a preferred alignment for light rail in the study area and is only intended to explore issues and potential feasibility. The indicative route options presented in the final report would need to be explored further, following any decision to further progress light rail for the city. I know the Deputy will be acutely aware that in January 2023, the High Court remitted the application for approval of the N6 Galway city ring road back to An Coimisiún Pleanála for further consideration. Galway County Council submitted an updated environmental impact assessment report and the Natura impact statement to An Coimisiún Pleanála on 15 April 2025 in relation to the N6 Galway city ring road. The NTA is of the view, and I agree, that this updated information must be considered in the preparation of the strategic roads feasibility study and the GMATS and prior to publication of a draft strategy for public consultation. That decision from An Coimisiún Pleanála will be critical to how the overall transport system works. I know this is a matter close to the Deputy’s heart, so I am not trying in any way to be disagreeable but I want to acknowledge the projects that are happening and are in place. The ring road will be critical in the decision on the future of the city of Galway and its transport network.
Sentiment score: 0.09
Regardless of the Deputy’s own views, and she has taken a position on the ring road, one could discuss the delays and why it has taken so long. People have had their say and there are judicial reviews. That is the planning process. The Deputy mentioned the Department’s own study and the reality that, even if that road was built, it would be under pressure but Galway - the Deputy lives in Galway and I know it extremely well, too - is under ferocious pressure because that road is not built. I am a big supporter of public transport and rail in particular. The national development plan, which we have just concluded the review of, has allocated every one in four euro between now and 2030 towards transport and transport infrastructure and rail, light rail and heavy rail will be a critical part of that. Work is happening within Galway right now that I referenced in my initial response to the Deputy. I understand the need to look at the overall strategy on the basis of what An Coimisiún Pleanála's decision will be in relation to the ring road itself. Even those who may have opposed the road for what they believed were valid reasons would understand that it would be a critical part. If the road were not to be approved at the end at all, we would then have to look at other options. That is what the Deputy enunciated here this evening, too. I believe that Galway needs that ring road and Galway needs further public transport. It is a vibrant city, a city that I love, and the county too, but it has been choked by traffic. I have many friends there and a daughter who spends every year in the Gaeltacht in south Connemara, so I know it very well. It is about the overall strategy and understanding what the decision from An Coimisiún Pleanála will be. There is BusConnects Galway, the Dublin Road scheme and many other things from Moneenageisha right the way through, so there are good things happening but the decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála will be fundamental to the decision on how we move forward.
Sentiment score: -0.00
I explained in my initial answer that the light rail feasibility study, as the Deputy knows, had been published. What I am trying to say is how all of that knits together. The road is an important part of it. A simple question that I could ask in countering what the Deputy said, and respecting the position she is taking, is whether the traffic situation in Galway would be better with an outer ring road. It would be, unquestionably. We want to get people out of cars, too. I am a supporter of light rail, heavy rail and public transport. We want to see it and we are seeing rail lines open across the country now and, building on the work of my predecessor, we intend to accelerate that. I take the Deputy’s point in relation to park and ride. She has, to be fair, raised it on a number of occasions here before. Something I will be cognisant of is how in the interim the situation can be made better. However, I would earnestly hope that should a positive decision from An Coimisiún Pleanála be made then that decision is accepted and we can move on with it. One of the reasons for the continued delay has been continued objection to the road. Deputy Connolly mentioned the reason the board turned it down. It was for climate reasons and that is fine. Deputy Connolly represents Galway West and knows the city better than me. I have a lot of friends in Galway and I speak to many people. Most people are very supportive of an outer ring road. Deputy Connolly is in Galway every day of the week. I am not there as frequently as she is but I am there quite often. Going down Lough Atalia Road, trying to get through Salthill on the way to south Connemara at any time during the day-----
Sentiment score: 0.20
I have said I will take cognisance of this and, in fairness, Deputy Connolly has raised it previously. Certainly it is something on which I will revert with regard to what other measures can be taken in the interim. We are doing work on the commuter rail network as Deputy Connolly knows. Significant work is being done at Ceannt Station, Oranmore Station and other stations. I take Deputy Connolly's point on park and ride and I will revert to her on it.
Sentiment score: 0.11
Not being flippant but I also saw some really good shops in Heuston Station, and good work has been done at stations throughout the network whereby people can buy a drink, a bottle of water or a cup of tea. Having said this, to be fair-----
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What was that?
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I will answer Deputy Daly. This is an issue he has raised previously with regard to when catering services will be rolled out again. I completely understand people's wish to see services return on all rail lines. However, if there is a choice between the taxpayer funding actual rail services or catering services on trains I am clear, as I have been previously, that taxpayer funding is best directed towards providing rail services themselves. I understand from Iarnród Éireann that it has been working to restore catering services where possible following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions on rail services. It has been engaging extensively with a range of operators in the market. However, the reality is that costs have significantly increased, at up to four times the previous levels quoted. Iarnród Éireann has had to deliver the service on a limited basis, within the available funding. A full tender process was undertaken for catering services across the Intercity network within current public service obligation funding. While the costs have been determined, Iarnród Éireann has only been in a position to restore catering services on the Dublin to Cork route with an Irish company, Carriage Food Services Limited, on an interim basis. As Deputy Daly knows, on-board catering is also available on the Dublin to Belfast Enterprise service, which is jointly operated by Iarnród Éireann and Translink and provided under a separate contract. The company continues to engage with the NTA and my Department on what is an important matter to people.
Sentiment score: 0.24
To answer Deputy Daly's question, I have encouraged Iarnród Éireann and the NTA to explore other avenues to support the wider reintroduction of catering services. I was honest with Deputy Daly about the costs. If the NTA were to award a contract at four times the cost of what operated prior to Covid, questions would rightly be asked about it. I have asked the NTA and Iarnród Éireann to explore other options and to revert to me. I hope these discussions might bear fruit shortly. I will keep Deputy Daly informed on it. I do think it is important, and I was not being flippant earlier, that there has been significant investment in our stations, including from an accessibility perspective. Yesterday in the Department I met a disabled transport user group. They were very informative on their lived experience about accessibility. Our facilities across our Intercity rail stations have greatly improved but we are exploring other options.
Sentiment score: 0.28
I know.
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I do get the point. A number of our rail cars and rail lines have the facilities on the trains. I have looked, and I have asked Iarnród Éireann and the NTA to explore other options, including the option Deputy Daly has articulated here today. I am hopeful this will bear fruit shortly. Deputy Daly has asked this question regularly, as have Government colleagues. I understand the position. I will revert once the discussions have concluded and we have options that would be affordable and would make sense whereby we are not paying out more money through the PSO when those moneys could be used to provide additional services. Deputies here understandably look for additional services because more and more people are using public transport. There were 330 million passenger journeys last year. There has been an increase already year on year of approximately 10.5%. People are responding to the better services that are there but we still need to work to improve them.
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A Massey Ferguson.
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I thank Deputy O'Gorman. He has indeed raised this matter here before. I launched the National Policy Framework on Unmanned Aircraft Systems, or drones, on 20 August 2025, making Ireland one of the first European Union member states to publish a dedicated policy in relation to drones. The policy framework aims to guide high-level strategic planning for, and the development of, the UAS sector in Ireland through supporting growth and innovation while, really importantly, ensuring safe and secure operations and managing environmental, community and other concerns. Many of the issues addressed in the policy framework fall directly within my remit and that of the Department of Transport while other issues cross over into the areas of responsibility of other Departments and agencies. The policy framework was developed through cross-departmental engagement structures and will be implemented through similar structures. It proposes a number of structures and actions that aim to address concerns in relation to increasing UAS usage and operations in balance with the realisation of the economic and societal benefits from this emerging drone sector. The policy framework proposes 16 actions in three main areas: the use of airspace and planning; compliance and enforcement; and enterprise and innovation. Implementation of the policy framework relies on a cross-governmental approach and the continuation of engagement and support from various Government Departments, agencies, the UAS sector itself and, really importantly, the public. My Department will shortly be making arrangements for the establishment of a national UAS policy framework monitoring group and the associated working groups to be established under the framework. That monitoring group, which will be chaired by my Department, will monitor, guide and support the implementation of the policy framework and, really importantly, the delivery of actions.
Sentiment score: 0.42
I know the Deputy's area very well. We have adjacent constituencies. I have spoken to many people in the Blanchardstown-Castleknock area. There has been a change. Many deliveries are being made by drone that would have been made by car, van and other methods. That is another consideration and something to think about. Do we want more traffic or do we want drones? We have to manage that with communities. Deputy Coppinger can laugh all she likes.
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Nothing is right with Deputy Coppinger. She suffers everything.
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The reality is that this is an emerging sector. It is in its infancy. We can be at the leading edge of innovation in this sector. To answer the Deputy's question directly, the implementation of this framework is the whole purpose of the monitoring group. We have to start from somewhere. We are one of the first countries, if not the first, to publish such a framework document. It will be managed within my Department and will report to me. We will have input from communities, as we have already had, from professional operators and from the technological side. It is an advancing industry and sector that we should embrace. It needs to be done in conjunction with communities, however.
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We are working with the sector, communities and the public. We had a lot of engagement on-----
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Hold on a second. Deputy O'Gorman knows there are regulations in place. They are EU regulations. The IAA is charged with-----
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There are regulations. The Deputy has stated on the record of the House that there are no regulations. That is not true. It is incorrect. That might work at a public meeting he is at or hosting with Deputy Coppinger to try to drum up further discontent. Undoubtedly, there are people impacted by it and that is why we need to ensure that there are proper designated zones and proper planning is followed. This is a sector in its relative infancy, however. It has grown very quickly. The previous Administration and Minister for Transport did not deal with this. In a few short months, I have brought out something we can work with and on which we can base the implementation on which we can base what we do next regarding further regulation in Ireland. We have done that within a very short space of time. Contrast that with my predecessor.
Sentiment score: -0.02
I thank the Deputy. She will be aware that such a route is planned to be introduced as part of BusConnects, which is the largest-ever investment programme in the bus system in the history of the State, funded by the Government on behalf of our citizens and managed by the NTA. Since its commencement in 2021, BusConnects Dublin has seen over 100 new double-decker electric buses enter into service across Dublin, with significant investment made in depot electrification to support the buses, as well as the implementation of multiple phases of new bus services under the network redesign. Earlier this summer, I was delighted to attend the contract signing of the first of the 12 core BusConnects corridors with construction of one to start this year and another to enter construction next year. The first is Liffey Valley to Dublin city centre, which will be a game-changer. As the Deputy is aware, I know Blanchardstown very well. I am pleased to say that the new N8 route will connect Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, with Clongriffin via Dublin Airport. The specific timing for the introduction of the route will depend on operational readiness but it could potentially be introduced within the next year. To be clear, next year, that is, by the end of 2026, is what we are working towards, depending on operational readiness. I am not sure where the information Ongar Tidy Towns has is from; it is obviously well meaning. This route is required. The Deputy is correct to say that thousands of her constituents work in the airport. That is why I back the airport. I want to make sure the airport can continue to grow, we can support the jobs in it and ensure there is a good public transport connection between Dublin 15 and the Dublin West area and the airport. Residents in Dublin 15 will continue to benefit from the multiple commuter train stations in the area. They will also benefit from the significant investment planned for commuter rail services under DART+ West, which will commence construction under this Government. That is more good news for the area. I will come back in.
Sentiment score: 0.30
I look forward to working with the Deputy in the coming weeks and months on our further plans to create more employment in the airport. As the Deputy knows, it is important that the people in my area and hers have good paying jobs to support their families and quality of life. There is no padded-out answer here. I am putting things in context because there is a lot happening with BusConnects. Dublin 15 is undoubtedly a major growth area with a lot of new communities. We have seen a lot of development there over the past 15 to 20 years, and that is continuing. In the last Government I and the former Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, were in, we saw further substantial development of really good quality homes in that area that need to be supported by good public transport. I can only give the Deputy an answer based on the question she put forward and the research I have done. I spoke specifically about the N8 route. Of course it will be based on operational readiness and the recruitment of drivers. We have practically full employment in this country. We want to get this route up and running. I will not make a political point but I have given the Deputy the best timeframe I can, which is that the route will be operational by the end of next year.
Sentiment score: 0.24
I thank the Deputy. I will take on board the suggestion she made on the W4 route to the airport in the interim. I have given her the best answer I can in regard to the N8 route. There are lots of good things happening all across Dublin in regard to public transport and we want to build on the progress that has been made over the past five years, no less so in Dublin 15. I will not again list all of the various capital projects that are happening. I am sure there are many public meetings being held on the basis of the significant investment that the Government is making in public transport in Dublin 15. I will take on board the Deputy's suggestion on the W4 route to the airport and revert to her directly. I will keep the pressure on in regard to the N8. I believe in BusConnects. The programme and route redesign has been very good and we will now see the core corridors, the first of which begins construction this year. That is a really good thing. We need to improve the lot for our commuters and those trying to get to work and school and go about their daily lives. I am committed to doing that.
Sentiment score: 0.27
I thank the Deputy for his support for this initiative. It is important we ensure there is safety on our public transport network right across the country. I want to assure him that we are actively progressing the legislative proposals required to deliver on the programme for Government commitment to establish that transport security force. I have worked very closely with the NTA. I met its chairperson this week and this will form part of the agenda. The work involves careful and informed consideration of the most appropriate model for the force. I am bottoming that out right now. We have looked at the options and we have key stakeholders engaged, including the NTA, operators, trade unions, passenger groups, An Garda Síochána and the Department of justice. I have met all these groups. I have met the Minister for justice, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, on this issue too. Since assuming office, collectively, I think I have met all those stakeholders at least twice. Another meeting is scheduled very shortly to get a progress update. We will deliver this. It will operate under the NTA, with powers similar to those held by the airport police and customs officers. Other additions are required, because if we look at the airport police, in particular, that force operates on a specific campus. A transport security force would be able to pursue and would have to be able to detain. We will have to work very closely with An Garda Síochána as well. The Garda has been very successful over the past 18 months in Operation Saul with the number of arrests and convictions the Garda has made, and this operation is specifically focused on our public transport network. I commend the Garda on the work it has done. We are working to a tight enough timeframe. We will need legislation to come into the House. We will have to consolidate many of the by-laws that already exist. That is a piece of work that is being done right now. Timeframe-wise, and I think I have said it before, I would love to have the legislation passed by the end of next year with the co-operation of the House. If we can do it sooner, it will require pre-legislative scrutiny in the Joint Committee on Transport.
Sentiment score: 0.24
I think there are ways of doing that and ways perhaps of running recruitment or looking at potential routes to recruitment alongside the legislation. We have to get the operational structures set in place. Consolidation of the legal aspects will be complex but the operational ones should not be. This is why I have already had discussions with the NTA and An Garda Síochána and direct meetings with the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan. The Department of justice is very supportive of what we are doing. The Deputy is right in what he said about perception. Looking at the 2024 report published in April, which the Deputy referred to, 90% of passengers said they feel safe on public transport in the early mornings or day time, but that drops to 70% in the evening. Many of those who have a perception of a lack of safety are people who do not actually use public transport. Basically, this issue is putting people off using public transport too. The addition of a dedicated, uniformed transport security force, working closely with An Garda Síochána, will make a significant difference in this regard. I will say more and give the details in my next response regarding the current spending on private security to supplement the Garda.
Sentiment score: 0.20
I genuinely thank the Deputy for his support for this force. If we can work together in a collegial way across the House, we will be able to advance the legislation quicker. We will need a fair wind to be able to have it all passed by next year and have recruitment for the force in place. It will have to be rolled out on a phased basis. It is my earnest desire to have the force in place in 2027. Iarnród Éireann security spending is up 41%. To answer the Deputy's earlier question, when this force is in place, I do not see it being the case that every other private security presence will be stood down. I think we could potentially work with that network to look at people who are already qualified to work in these roles. I just want to put a few things on the record. Iarnród Éireann's security spending is up 41% and this equates to around €11 million in 2025. Twenty rapid response hubs have been established across the inner-city network. Dublin Bus has expanded its safer journey team to three units in north, south and central Dublin. There are 11 internal CCTV cameras on all buses, with three external CCTV cameras fitted on the modern fleet vehicles. Bus Éireann has CCTV across its fleet, with 24-7 emergency support available. The Luas has 58 full-time security staff who wear body cameras and patrol the Red and Green lines. There are certain blackspots. Dublin Bus, in particular, has responded to this issue and there is a particular focus to stamp out antisocial behaviour. Such behaviour is not acceptable anywhere and particularly not on our public transport network. It should be stamped out. That is why I think the creation of this security force will assist in that.
Sentiment score: 0.21