Public Transport and Fare Increases: Motion [Private Members]
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-29
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Mark Ward (SF), Dublin Mid-West

The Government wants people out of cars and on to public transport, and I agree with that. I have no issue with it whatsoever. In theory, it is good, but in practice, it is simply not working. To encourage people out of cars, the first thing that needs to be done is to make public transport more accessible. The last thing that needs to be done is increase the cost of public transport in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. It is also bad for the environment and the ever-increasing traffic congestion around Dublin, as we see ourselves as we move around.
The Government has also failed to deliver and provide for adequate public transport in my own area. The DART+ South West, which would bring a DART service to Clondalkin, Lucan and Adamstown, was granted planning permission in November 2024. Despite the Minister's arguments, the funding has not yet been released. I am very disappointed that in his ten-minute speech, I did not hear DART+ South West mentioned once. That is concerning to me. DART+ South West is a game-changer in my area. It would bring 20,000 passengers in each direction per hour. The reality is that because of the lack of train capacity, passengers in my area are fainting on trains because of overcrowding as they try to go to work. Now, the Minister wants them to pay more for the privilege of fainting.
The Minister mentioned BusConnects. There are 12 schemes, all of which have secured planning permission. How many have been delivered fully? Not one. I have seen the work on the Liffey Valley route starting, but that was meant to start years ago.
I will raise one last issue. The lack of public transport is forcing people to drive. I ask the Minister to look at parking provision in new estates in new areas. This is causing a lot of concern for residents.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-29/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-10-05T01:00:59+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-29