This question is in the context of the National Transport Authority, NTA, stating that it does not have money for further public transport expansion this year. Why has it been left in this position? I have a relevant local example in Athenry in my area. I know that the Minster is aware of the situation there. Will he touch on it?

Sentiment score: 0.02

This reset the Minister is talking about means fewer new services. That is what the NTA is saying, and the impact of that is massive. I know the impact of it in Athenry, and the Minister knows the story there, where we have been promised a PSO bus service for the past two years since the previous service ended. We still do not have that bus service. We have been told that the 6.50 a.m. train, the only early morning train service at around that time between Athenry and Galway, is ending in six weeks' time at the end of July due to a lack of funding. Athenry is a large and growing town with a population of over 5,000 people. We have Dexcom now and up and running in the town, and many people commute in and out of Galway city. There are serious problems on rail services, with dangerous overcrowding at peak times. We are being left waiting for these services. We are being told that the money is not there for the new bus services or to maintain this vital, early morning train service. There is no justification for us being left to wait any longer. I presented the Minister with a petition signed by 1,700 people within Athenry calling for these services to be maintained. Will the Minister ensure that that happens?

Sentiment score: -0.00

I welcome the Minister's commitment on the 6.50 a.m. train. I ask that that be communicated to the NTA and Irish Rail as well, that clarity is provided to them on that. The responses I am getting have not reflected that until now but I welcome the Minister's comments on the matter today. If additional funding is forthcoming, of course that will be very welcome as well but my question is on when that will happen. In terms of Athenry, we have been waiting two years for that promised bus service. The NTA says that while it does not have any additional funding, it cannot implement that service. My big question, then, is: when that will happen? It is urgent for Athenry and, I am sure, for many other areas across the State where there are real constraints in terms of public transport capacity. I urge the Minister to ensure that this happens very quickly. The NTA wants to be able to provide more services. We all know that public transport has become increasingly popular but people want to be able to rely on it and they should be supported to do so. We need the commitment from the Government and, crucially, the funding to do that. I ask the Minister to provide clarity on when we can expect that.

Sentiment score: 0.38

Yes.

Sentiment score: 0.40

I ask the Minister to provide an update on the replacement of the State's rail traffic management system; to provide an updated timeline for delivery; the projected costs for this; and to make a statement on the matter.

Sentiment score: 0.03

The €50 million that has been written off on this failed traffic management system represents a shocking waste of public money. The information given to the transport committee last week by Irish Rail showed that, for years, Iarnród Éireann staff expressed concerns about the ability of the contractor, Indra, to deliver this project. Despite these concerns, millions of euro continued to be put into this project. It demonstrates a real failure in project oversight. I understand that, in mid-2025, Iarnród Éireann recommended to the NTA that the contract be terminated due to the ongoing delivery concerns, yet that contract is still in place. The Minister mentioned that he had met the contractor. I know the Department has been kept updated on this. Why was a stop not put to this contract, given all the evidence that Indra was failing to deliver it? What has the Minister done to ensure that costs are kept under control to avoid this waste of money? What is going to happen to this contract going forward, and how will the Minister ensure that costs are kept under control?

Sentiment score: -0.16

It is a very important project. It is clear from the evidence that Iarnród Éireann provided that the failure to deliver the system now risks the possibility of disruption to rail services. A sum of €50 million is an enormous amount of money. We just had a discussion about the lack of funding that was available for new public transport services, and €50 million would make a huge difference there and right across the public transport system in terms of the constraints that exist. The Minister needs to ensure that the costs are brought back under control, and that there is no risk to the safe operation of the rail network. The Minister should provide clarity on how we have got to this point and why this lack of oversight has been allowed to happen, as well as on what his own role has been in terms of oversight here. Indra is also the contractor responsible for the delivery of the contactless payments on the public transport system, as part of next-generation ticketing. The cost of that programme is up to €269 million. Will the Minister confirm what actions he is taking to oversee that project as well?

Sentiment score: 0.09