Local TDs have said that more needs to be done to improve public transport on the Northside.
This week, Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien introduced new legislation to the Dáil, which looked to expand the powers of the National Transport Authority as works on the Metrolink and BusConnects pick up steam.
Minister O’Brien’s legislation looks to expand on the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, which created the NTA.
The NTA was established with the intention of turning it into a system similar to Transport for London, but TDs have become frustrated with the NTA being unanswerable to them on operational matters owing to its nature as a statutory non-commercial body.
Minister O’Brien explained the purpose of his bill was to provide a “clear legislative framework to enable the National Transport Authority to undertake the construction of public transport infrastructure projects, such as BusConnects, in the State, as it currently does in the greater Dublin area.”
The Minister’s Northside colleague, Dublin North-West TD Paul McAuliffe, said that local TDs have campaigned against NTA proposals, such as the controversial rollout of BusConnects.
McAuliffe said that the introduction of BusConnects in Dublin was “fairly rocky.”
He noted, “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.”
The Dublin North-West TD stated, “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, and the NTA listened.”
He said that the dysfunctional bus routes in Dublin are even discussed among Dáil staff.
“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.”
He said that “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.”
McAuliffe said that work on the core bus corridor between Finglas and Ballymun was due to start in March or April, but work has yet to begin on the project.
“We want to see the core bus corridors in place and logic being applied in the context of how they operate.”
He said, “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 engagement 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.”
Dublin West TDs Ruth Coppinger and Paul Donnelly said that the vast nature of Dublin West as a constituency lends itself to transport issues.
Coppinger said, “I could go on all day about transport needs in Dublin West; the greater Blanchardstown area is not all of Dublin West but it is a lot of it.”
“It is the third biggest urban area, after Cork and Limerick, but it does not have the transport we need,” she said, adding “we do not have a Luas or a metro.”
“There is a rail line but it is out of reach for people not in Castleknock, Clonsilla and Ashtown, which is a lot of the population. We have a huge number of multinational companies and people driving into the area every day. There should have been a Luas extension from Broombridge to Blanchardstown Centre. It is a greenfield site and would not cost as much as if it was diverted through a whole load of areas. It is needed for Blanchardstown, given the amount of industry we have as well.
Coppinger noted caution on passing Minister O’Brien’s legislation.
“I first became a councillor in 2003 and was elected in 2004. The council used to run the bins and control the water. What does it do now? All these quangos and ad hoc third-party bodies are being created – the HSE, the NTA, etc.”
She said, “it takes political decisions out of the hands of elected people and hands them over to national bodies, and the government can say, ah look, you know, NTA took this decision independently. We have to respect it.”
“Do not get me wrong; I am not saying that just because people oppose something, it is not the right thing. I am saying local communities and councillors who know their areas are being sidelined by the likes of this bill, which is giving more powers to a national body to build infrastructure which, often, the councils used to propose. Then it would be a statutory public consultation, after which a vote would come back to the local council. I do not agree that we should be moving more and more in the current direction,” the Solidarity TD said.
Sinn Féin TD Donnelly said that Dublin 15 has a population of 120,000, and is projected to increase to 140,000 by 2029.
“Yet, we do not have the long-promised direct bus to the airport. I can get a direct bus pretty much from anywhere in the thirty-two Counties, but if I want to head to the airport, I have to pay €50 for a taxi or get two buses.”
He said, “this is not an option for the hundreds who work in the airport. Can the Minister get onto the NTA and ask about it?”
“It has been promised for every single year since 2024, but has not turned up. In Tyrrelstown, a complete review of the public transport system is needed. It is not working for the people and there is no plan to go into Kilmartin, which is a huge new estate. I ask the Minister to please ask the NTA to have a look at forward planning and get its act together,” he said.
Donnelly had praise for the new active travel plan on the N3 and M50, but said the NTA are doing their best to sabotage it.
He said the plan is a bus lane that will make it easier for residents in Littlepace to travel into Dublin.
“What does the NTA do? It removes the number 70 bus that will bring people directly onto the new bus lane and leaves a pointless cycle lane that goes across the N3 to a garage. Once again, the NTA needs to start listening to the people.”
Donnelly remarked, “we will probably all have shuffled off this mortal coil” by the time the Metro West is completed.
“It will connect the DART+ to Maynooth and the newly proposed Navan rail line at Metro North. We know the M50 is at capacity. If that is not a reason to get it started now, I do not know what is. It is really time for the public transport network system to be a network system that works for all. We see it in every major European country,” he said.
The DART+ will be brilliant when it comes into play but it is very disjointed. We need Metro West connecting with DART+. We need BusConnects and the NTA listening to the people who are on the ground – they are the bus users and know what works. I urge the Minister to have a chat with the NTA and ask it to listen to us,” he said.