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Public Transport

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 November 2020

Thursday, 5 November 2020

Ceisteanna (79, 80)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

79. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the monitoring system in place for potential overcrowding issues on the DART service due to the reduction of capacity under level 5 of the living with Covid-19 plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34363/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

80. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if data is being collected to monitor if there is a need for extra DART and other transport services to facilitate social distancing under level 5 of the living with Covid-19 plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34364/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together.

The continued operation of the public transport sector is important and, from a very early stage in the Covid-19 crisis, public transport was designated by Government as among the essential services that could continue throughout the emergency. Guided by public health advice, measures have been introduced across the system to enable the continued operation of services during the pandemic, including enhanced cleaning regimes and appropriate social distancing measures across the network. New Regulations were also introduced making mandatory the wearing of face coverings on public transport, with some limited exceptions.

There is continued strong messaging that public transport capacity remains restricted and, therefore, should only be used for essential travel, with only those who have to travel at peak times doing so. People are being encouraged to walk or cycle where practical, and organisations are encouraged to continue to facilitate working from home.

Since the entire country entered Level 5 of the Government's Living with Covid Plan recently, which has necessitated the capacity on public transport services to reduce to 25%, the NTA issued a statement on its website on 20th October which says that they will look at “particular pressure points ” in relation to public transport should the need arise, with a view to addressing them at local level. Dublin Bus, for example, has deployed additional vehicles to address particular problem areas, where possible, to mitigate the impact of capacity pressures on the network. I would like to thank operators and their staff, particularly drivers, who continue to provide a service in difficult circumstances to ensure essential workers and students can get to work and school.

Both my Department and the NTA are closely monitoring public transport demand, including bus and DART, and will continue to be guided by public health advice. The NTA advised that the situation on Monday 2nd November, when schools re-opened following the mid-term beak, and also on Tuesday 3rd was much improved with a reduced level of capacity problems notified by transport operators.

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