Local TDs demand better bus services in West Dublin

Fianna Fáil and Solidarity may not have a lot in common on paper, but their local TDs share a common goal; wanting to improve bus services for people in West Dublin.

Last week in the Dáil, local TDs Paul McAuliffe and Ruth Coppinger raised how their respective constituents in Dublin North-West (which covers Ballymun and Finglas) and Dublin West (which covers Ashtown, Blanchardstown, Ongar and the wider Dublin 15 area) are growing frustrated with poor bus services.

McAuliffe said that the recent rollout of BusConnects on the F spine routes 23 and 24 has had a “profound impact” on his constituents.

“Punctuality is not something one would have associated with the early phases or even the continuing phases,” he remarked.

McAuliffe’s Fianna Fáil colleague, Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, acknowledged there have been issues with bus operators, but insisted that BusConnects isa  “positive development and an investment in our public transport.”

Minister O’Brien said, “the Ballymun-Finglas quality bus corridor is approved and going to construction. It is the second one and will make a big difference in terms of giving priority to buses and also on the active travel side.”

The Minister reassured McAuliffe that he would be holding a meeting with relevant stakeholders on March 18 to discuss how congestion in the city centre is having an effect for Northside commuters.

The Dublin Fingal East TD said that while providers are being fined for poor services, he acknowledges that it is little consolation to commuters, and that a reliable service is needed.

McAuliffe said he would rather have buses arriving on time than a company being fined, but acknowledged that when it comes to for-profit operators, the facility to impose a financial penalty is important. 

“There are bus services in my area that are operated by private operators; it is my preference that they not be there, but that is the nature of the current framework. We must make sure they abide by the conditions under which they tendered for those contracts,” he said.”

Minister O’Brien said that whenever a bus operator is fined for bad performance, the fines go straight back into the system; in 2024 the main private operator was fined nearly €1.5 million, which was then reinvested into the bus network.

McAuliffe, TD for Dublin North-West, has been pressing his government colleagues on the poor bus services in recent months; he told the Dáil that a pre-Christmas meeting was held between public representatives and the NTA, with the NTA noting that October was a “difficult time” to implement a new bus service as the Christmas period coincides with increased congestion.

McAullife also noted that the NTA have been having issues with recruitment.

“When a new service is being introduced by the NTA, it must be done in conjunction with the operator,” he said.

Further west, Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger discussed the issue of cancelled buses with the Minister for Transport.

Coppinger noted that in the first six months of 2025, there were 6,000 complaints to the NTA in Dublin about cancelled buses.

“Those are just people who get the strength to make complaints,” she noted.

Coppinger said ghost buses are causing “real problems” in her area, with her constituents in Tyrrelstown, in particular, suffering as a result of poor services on the 238 route.

“The people of Tyrrelstown are losing their jobs and losing their livelihoods. They are ending up late for work and late for school. It is having a huge impact on people’s lives. What are the repercussions from the Department for the operators?” she asked.

Minister O’Brien explained, “the most significant factor in recent months has been traffic congestion. For example, Dublin Bus is currently delivering 98% of contracted kilometres set by the NTA. However, punctuality is being affected by rising traffic volumes in the city in particular. Buses delayed going out and coming back in are having an effect.”

The Minister acknowledged “some things need to be planned better within our transport operators, particularly relating to resources, something Go Ahead has acknowledged.”

“I have been in touch with the operators directly on many occasions, particularly on the issue of being able to trust the data on the app. If the app is showing the bus is coming but then it just disappears, people cannot make alternative arrangements.”

He also stated that a “big issue” with Go Ahead has been with mechanics.

“It has employed ten more but they were delayed in getting here. They have been trained and are now working, so we should see an improvement there,” he told Coppinger.

Coppinger pressed the Minister on the performance (or the lack thereof) on the 238 route.

Cancellations on the 238 route spike to as high as 8.2% in a given week, which Coppinger said is “unacceptable.”

“The people paying the price are ordinary working people. It is also ironic that they are trying to introduce parking charges in Blanchardstown centre. The 238 is the only bus that people in Tyrrelstown have to get to Blanchardstown centre, and yet they are meant to be taking that bus. Many of the people work there, by the way,” the Dublin West TD noted.

Coppinger told the Dáil, “a woman in Tyrrelstown contacted me; she works in Dublin Port. Can you imagine what a feat that is? It is like an odyssey, trying to match up the different connections. It is very dangerous for a woman late at night or early in the morning when it is dark. People in these areas are suffering.”

“If the government wants houses built, and we all want houses built, we must have the transport and infrastructure. Dublin West needs massive investment in public transport,” she said.

Minister O’Brien noted that Dublin Bus is running a jobs campaign to attract new employees, noting Dublin Bus are providing “good, secure jobs with good in-house training; there is good career advancement.”

“The Deputy said the situation is ridiculous if we cannot find people to work in those jobs. There are nearly 3 million now working in the economy. The economy is going well. People are well-trained and well-educated. There is a pro-enterprise Government. That does pose strains. I am not in any way dismissing the point the Deputy has made, particularly about the 238 bus. I will look specifically at that matter,” he said.

The Minister said that the 8% cancellation rate on the 238 rate is “unacceptable” but said his department were working on improving an automatic vehicle location system, which he predicts “will make a big difference.”

“With it, at least people will know if there is a delay or cancellation because they will be able to see it on the app. There will be real-time data. That is going into pilot this quarter, with full roll-out and completion scheduled for 2027, which is next year.”

The Dublin Fingal East TD said that improvements needed to be made across the board, and that applies to Dublin 15.