Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2021
44. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport if a commitment will be made to the implementation of the full plan on BusConnects and in particular the infrastructure for connectivity of Chapelizod Village, Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62350/21]
View answer53. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the status of the BusConnects project; if the business case for the BusConnects project remains unchanged in view of announcements in 2021 regarding the MetroLink project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62298/21]
View answer57. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the status of the BusConnects roll-out in Dublin. [62085/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 53 and 57 together.
The National Development Plan states that construction of the BusConnects Core Bus Corridors is expected to be substantially complete in all five cities by 2030, with BusConnects Dublin the most advanced of all the BusConnects programmes.
The next milestone in relation to BusConnects Dublin is Government approval of the Preliminary Business Case under Decision Gate 1 of the Public Spending Code . The Preliminary Business Case for the BusConnects programme has been submitted to my Department for review and I will bring it to Government for its decision during Q1 2022.
Government approval at Decision Gate 1 will permit the National Transport Authority submit planning applications to An Bord Pleanála in relation to the Core Bus Corridors and the first of those planning applications is expected to be submitted upon receipt of Government approval.
As the Deputies are aware, BusConnects Dublin consists of a number of different elements and alongside the Core Bus Corridors the BusConnects Network Redesign is the next most significant of those elements. Roll-out of the new network has already commenced with the launch earlier this year of the H-Spine (Malahide/Howth to City Centre) and, more recently, the C-Spine (Maynooth/Leixlip/Lucan to Ringsend). In 2022 I expect to see further phases of the Network Redesign rolled out, while another important element of the programme - Next Generation Ticketing – will move to the next stage of procurement upon Government approval of the Preliminary Business Case.
I can assure the Deputies that BusConnects Dublin is a key focus of our investment programme and I look forward to their continued support as the infrastructure and service improvements are delivered in the coming years.
