I looked at the Dáil's business for this week with interest and saw that we would be taking the Dublin Transport Authority (Amendment) Bill. It is somewhat ironic that the Bill will be of far more benefit to the Minister of State's constituents than it will to mine, because many of the amendments being brought forward relate to BusConnects in Cork. This shows the development of the NTA, which was originally the Dublin Transport Authority before being renamed, and the fact that it was not initially given the clear powers now being granted to it. Like other Deputies, I welcome the standardisation of the powers the NTA will have to act as a developer of both public infrastructure and public transport across the country. The development of BusConnects in Cork, which has been long promised, will be aided by the delivery of this project. The introduction of BusConnects in Dublin was fairly rocky. Many Deputies campaigned against what the NTA proposed because, in many cases, it went against what local communities wanted. There was not enough of an understanding at the beginning on the part of the NTA as to how people use the bus services. Clusters of people's children might attend a particular school that is some distance away, but they picked that school because there was a bus route to it from their area. It might not make logical sense on a map, but when people see that there is a bus route from A to B, they can see the logic of why families chose that particular school. Therefore, there needs to be far more engagement in Cork, at an earlier point. Many of the lessons relating to what happened in Dublin need to be taken on board. There is no doubt that the NTA listened when it came to some services. It made significant changes and restored services because it saw the logic in doing so. This often happened in places where communities came together and where the passenger experience was outlined in documented form. I have never been a fan of signing petitions. A petition just shows how many people are against something, but showing the NTA why a service was being used in the way it was had an impact. The NTA listened. In other areas, it pushed ahead with the introduction of BusConnects. As my colleague said earlier in the context of the 23, 24, F1, F2 and F3 in Finglas, the idea is to remove a direct connection to the traditional shopping area comprising O'Connell Street and Henry Street for people from Finglas and Glasnevin and to reduce the frequency of the old 40 buses by introducing the new F1, F2 and F3. Deputies cannot walk through this House without an usher stopping them to tell them that the F1 or F2 did not turn up on a particular morning. The ushers and people who work in the self-service and Members' restaurants, many of whom live in my constituency, will say that they go to the bus stop and sometimes wait 30, 40 or 50 minutes, whereas previously they waited 10, 15 or 20 minutes. Those lessons have to be learnt. The NTA has a big job to do. I am concerned about extending its power and remit, but I want to see it deliver the Finglas Luas and metro projects. I also want the new designated activity company, DAC, to be established in order that those projects can proceed. I want to see work begin on one of the first core bus corridors that is being developed, namely that between Finglas and Ballymun. It was due to start in March or April, but I have not yet seen the shovel in the ground. We want to see the core bus corridors in place and logic being applied in the context of how they operate. There will be disagreement, but it is all about communicating. We have to make sure that we have forums for local people to engage. Local people are not a nuisance. They provide information on ways to improve services and their engaging with the process represents an opportunity to communicate change. We have to make sure that these big infrastructure projects are delivered. The Critical Infrastructure Bill is an important part of that. I will continue to make the case for Finglas Luas. It is a no-brainer. It will cost €600 million for 4 km of track, and the project will have a massive impact in the context of bringing improvement to our area. It will open up the possibility of new opportunities for people who work and live in our area. We must ensure that the railway order that was granted earlier this year is followed through on quickly with the approval gates for the business case, a procurement policy, enabling works, advance works, construction and then, "Ding, ding", the opening of the Luas line into Finglas. That is what we want to see. There are good signs that this is happening with great speed. I want to make sure that there is no slippage. I will do everything in my power in this House to make sure that project is delivered. I ask the Minister of State to support it in the way his colleague the Minister, Deputy O'Brien does.

Sentiment score: 0.17