I could drive the bus nearly.

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I would try my best.

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I would meet the Deputy any time.

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The Deputy never came to me once.

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I thank all the Members for their contributions. It is incumbent on all of us that we would encourage people to use public transport. Based on the debate tonight, some of the suggestions and solutions from the contributions are ways in which we can enhance our public transport offering but also attract more people to partake in public transport. I found the debate interesting and invigorating. A bit like the coffee, it was frank and honest, and we got the good and the bad. It was without the milk and without the sugar at times but it was important to hear it. Those of us who have been on public transport will understand the frustrations of many, and the articulation of the frustrations of the travelling public by many in the Chamber tonight, based on their experiences. It is something we must reflect upon. I am sure the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I, and others in the Department, will parse through the contributions. I reassure Members that Government is committed to investing in public transport outside of Dublin. As somebody who lives outside Dublin, like the Ceann Comhairle, there is life beyond the M50, as Deputy Pa Daly will know well. It is important that we have, under the national transport development plan, balanced investment in the regions but also in a variety of modes of transport. We saw the report today about jobs and AI. If we are to be serious about economic competitiveness and our population growth, we need to have investment in public transport. To remind Members in the House, because sometimes they might not hear this articulated, the national development plan and the sectoral investment plan for transport has €24 billion in funding of projects nationwide. I reiterate that I accept the frustrations articulated and spoken about in the Chamber tonight. We have a four-year plan for transport investment. It is an ambitious programme of investment in infrastructure and services that reflects Government's determination to build a transport system which is efficient and low-carbon but also responsive to the evolving needs of the travelling public, and also based on our economic needs. In listening to some of the contributions, I take the point in terms of accountability. There is a real need for accountability around the NTA, which does very good work. Deputy Lahart made a very good point that when you take away the beginning, the middle and the end of the schemes we all refer to, some of the outcomes are quite good and we see a huge improvement. What we all, as politicians and public representatives, share is that democratic deficit that perhaps sometimes we feel we are not being listened to by the NTA. That is why the communication piece is so important. That is why the clear and cogent articulation of the plan, where we are going and how we are going to get there is important. I cannot remember who said that the good engineers with the desktop and modelling sometimes drive us all to the point of distraction. All of us, who have been members of local authorities, recognise the importance of the Part 8 - that transparent piece. With the NTA, that public consultation cannot just be a box-ticking exercise. It has to be meaningful and real. The overarching theme I got tonight was the importance of listening. There is another point I would make as a practising politician. I was smiling at Deputy Ó Laoghaire, who made reference to Bishopstown and Highfield. As a former chairman of Bishopstown GAA club, I will come back to that. Deputy Pa Daly is smiling at me. The first iteration of the plan for the Luas for Cork did not go through public open space in terms of green areas or the much-cherished sporting recreation grounds of Bishopstown, Highfield and our local schools. Those of us who are long-time politicians will ask why there was a change in the first iteration when to all of us there was no demonstrative need to change it at all. That is why public consultation is important. Notwithstanding the events in Killarney at the weekend, Government is committed. Part of the Bill deals with Cork, the fastest growing urban area. Population growth of between 50% and 60% is envisaged there by 2040. This is not just about funding being allocated for transport projects; it is also about real delivery in the context of the national development plan for transport, including projects such as the Cork to Limerick motorway, the Castlemartyr and Killeagh bypasses, the M28 to Ringaskiddy and Great Island connectivity. It will also require the Luas and BusConnects for Cork to be developed. The Bill will help to deliver better bus services and improved public transport for Cork. I say genuinely that Bus Éireann must improve in terms of its provision of public transport in the city and the suburbs of Cork. People want BusConnects to succeed. The people of Cork want a bus system that delivers in terms of frequency of service and better reliability, safer walking and cycling routes and improved connectivity with the airport and the suburbs. We are entering a critical phase of delivery. That is why the next four years will be transformative. I hear the frustration of many people who speak to me every week, including Members of the House, regarding BusConnects and other issues relating to Dublin. We heard about that from various Deputies during the debate, and is understandable and fair in the context of the Bill. People want to use public transport and are seeking reliability. Investment by the Government is one part of that. Cork commuter rail is an example of something being used when it is provided. The Cork to Mallow, Midleton or Cobh line shows people voting with their feet. That is an example of the management of A.J. Cronin and others. It is also shows that if a plan is put together and backed up by resources people will use a service. One of the comments I constantly hear, including last Sunday at the Douglas Young at Heart event for the late Phil Goodman, is about bus services. People tell me they want to use buses, but they want to know what happens if a bus does not come and they are left waiting. Members mentioned change during the debate. Older people in particular do not like change or do not necessarily want their route numbers or timetables to change. Punctuality and reliability are important. Accountability was also mentioned. It was stated that the NTA not accountable. It is accountable to the Minister. Fines to the tune of €735,000 last year were levied on Bus Éireann due to a lack of reliability. I am not immune to what is going on. There needs to be accountability. Deputies Daly and Quinlivan made reference to that in their contributions. They are correct. People on smaller routes need to be looked after. Given that I am from Bishopstown, it would be remiss of me not to mention the Bishopstown section of BusConnects not coming into play. That is short-sighted on the part of the NTA. In the case of Cork, let us plan for BusConnects to operate in tandem with and to complement the Luas. At its core, BusConnects is about transforming public transport and the strategic corridor F makes no sense to me. The Bill underpins investment in public transport around sustainable transport corridors, in particular the Bishopstown to Cork city route. It would also be remiss of me if I did not make reference to the plan for the Luas for Cork going through Bishopstown GAA club and Highfield RFC. I have made my position quite clear as somebody who is in favour of the Luas but does in any way see any merit in the us going through Bishopstown and Highfield in any shape or form or affecting the residents of Wilton Avenue when a vast amount of land owned by the HSE in Cork University Hospital can be used. This is a very important Bill. As the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, said, it is vital to provide a clear legislative framework to extend the national transport authorities remit and enable it to undertake the construction of public transport infrastructure. I remind Members that, with regard to the NTA, section 44(2) of the Act includes an accountability element. I thank Members for their contributions and look forward to the passage of the Bill through the Houses.

Sentiment score: 0.17