Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 October 2018
529. Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is planned to cancel existing direct bus services into Dublin city in view of the decision to have a comprehensive review of bus services in various parts of Dún Laoghaire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39595/18]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the implementation and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including the BusConnects project.
The BusConnects project plans to increase bus services across Dublin by 27% and also increase by 30% the number of people living within 400 metres of a bus service operating every 15 minutes or less. These substantial increases in service mean better opportunities for Dubliners to get to jobs, travel to school or college or spend time with friends and family.
As the Deputy is aware, the NTA - supported by Dublin Bus - has just carried out a full public consultation on the BusConnects proposals relating to the network design, and this involved providing local brochures, local information sessions organised at various locations around the city, digital imaging of the network, on-line surveys and consultation with user groups.
Included among those local information sessions was one in the Dún Laoghaire area. All area-specific issues raised and submissions received during the network design public consultation process will be examined by the NTA now that the consultation period is over. The NTA expect to publish a revised network design proposal early next year and any reconfigurations to the proposal will be subject to further consultation.
