7. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the infrastructure projects currently being undertaken in Dublin West; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10742/26]

Sentiment score: 0.01

I ask the Minister for an update on infrastructure projects for the Dublin West constituency. The focus of my question is public transport, because of the litany of woes I hear about from constituents daily who, because of the other investment we have had, do not have access to the Luas or a metro. We have one of the largest populations in the city. People are suffering daily in their lives trying to get to work and get their children to school. What investment in public transport in particular will be provided?

Sentiment score: -0.18

I have received many representations from people about the odyssey of the 39 bus route. Every time there is a new development, it is added to the same route without new or distinct routes being created. There needs to be change. I want to focus on the Tyrrelstown-Hollystown area because that is where much if the additional building has taken place. Public transport in the area is particularly atrocious. For a female worker from Tyrrelstown trying to get to her job in Dublin Port every morning, there is no connection to the N4 route at Rosemount Business Park and buses do not arrive early enough to allow her to get to work. Many people report having to get taxis to work. One day in particular, it cost the woman in question €67 to get from Tyrrelstown to work. The 238 is a ghost bus. It is the only route to the town centre in Blanchardstown. Parking charges are being proposed for the centre, but people do not even have a reliable bus service to get there. In a moment, I will talk about Hollystown and changes to BusConnects.

Sentiment score: -0.02

I accept the Minister's acknowledgement of the position. However, as a Minister who represents the area, he has to deliver for people. Who else is going to be able to do that? The 40E is going to be replaced by the 262. I have already had two representations about that. The 262 route will terminate before Hollystown. As a result, people in Hollystown will not have a direct route into the city centre. That has to be addressed. I have been contacted by a huge group of parents who have been told that when the 40E route is replaced, the new route will no longer cross the bridge into Cabra. It will turn onto the Ballyboggan Road instead. This means that people cannot get their children to school in St. Dominic's or in the Navan Road area. That has to be addressed. We have already had issues where people in Tyrrelstown could not get their children to school in Hansfield. They had to organise car pools. Will the Minister speak to TFI and Dublin Bus about that matter? We cannot lose the connectivity people in that area have - they need more - in order to get to work and to get their kids to school.

Sentiment score: 0.05