Darragh O'Brien
Dublin Fingal East · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“The appropriate next time to do that is once the ANCA decision is finalised and the public consultation is concluded, which will be on 3 September. Obviously, there will be a period required after that when the submissions to ANCA will be looked at. That is where the consultation is. That will happen over the coming months.”
“I have already mentioned the more than 3 million passengers who flew through Cork Airport and the growth of Shannon Airport, which has just had its best half a year and which now has over 40 routes. However, a small number of people are impacted and they need to be listened to.”
“Others did not want it at all. I think Shane Ross was Minister for transport at the time. That has been done. That is in place. This decision will be made. I do not have a timeframe. Hopefully it will be soon after the submissions from the public on the draft noise decision is made. That would feed into both.”
“An Investec report published in, I believe, 2022 said that to maintain the cap at 32 million between now and 2030 would jeopardise up to about 19,000 jobs. That is the reality of it. I support the workers in the airport. I am from the community myself. The airport has to grow in a sustainable way.”
“I have also made it clear that even though, and this is a fact, international aviation emissions are outside the scope of the climate action plan, we are taking actions aligned with the global approach to decarbonisation of the aviation industry, which is based on the International Civil Aviation Organization's basket of measures to ensur…”
“I have already highlighted the planning decision on the DAA’s infrastructure application. We discussed that at some length over the course of the last nearly two hours. That application seeks to raise the passenger cap to 40 million and provide for much-needed additional infrastructure at Dublin Airport.”
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“The programme and route redesign has been very good and we will now see the core corridors, the first of which begins construction this year. That is a really good thing. We need to improve the lot for our commuters and those trying to get to work and school and go about their daily lives. I am committed to doing that.”
“I thank the Deputy. I will take on board the suggestion she made on the W4 route to the airport in the interim. I have given her the best answer I can in regard to the N8 route. There are lots of good things happening all across Dublin in regard to public transport and we want to build on the progress that has been made over the past five years, no less so in Dublin 15. I will not again list all of the various capital projects that are happening. I am sure there are many public meetings being held on the basis of the significant investment that the Government is making in public transport in Dublin 15. I will take on board the Deputy's suggestion on the W4 route to the airport and revert to her directly. I will keep the pressure on in regard to the N8. I believe in BusConnects.”
“I can only give the Deputy an answer based on the question she put forward and the research I have done. I spoke specifically about the N8 route. Of course it will be based on operational readiness and the recruitment of drivers. We have practically full employment in this country. We want to get this route up and running. I will not make a political point but I have given the Deputy the best timeframe I can, which is that the route will be operational by the end of next year.”
“I look forward to working with the Deputy in the coming weeks and months on our further plans to create more employment in the airport. As the Deputy knows, it is important that the people in my area and hers have good paying jobs to support their families and quality of life. There is no padded-out answer here. I am putting things in context because there is a lot happening with BusConnects. Dublin 15 is undoubtedly a major growth area with a lot of new communities. We have seen a lot of development there over the past 15 to 20 years, and that is continuing. In the last Government I and the former Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, were in, we saw further substantial development of really good quality homes in that area that need to be supported by good public transport.”
“I want to make sure the airport can continue to grow, we can support the jobs in it and ensure there is a good public transport connection between Dublin 15 and the Dublin West area and the airport. Residents in Dublin 15 will continue to benefit from the multiple commuter train stations in the area. They will also benefit from the significant investment planned for commuter rail services under DART+ West, which will commence construction under this Government. That is more good news for the area. I will come back in.”
“The first is Liffey Valley to Dublin city centre, which will be a game-changer. As the Deputy is aware, I know Blanchardstown very well. I am pleased to say that the new N8 route will connect Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, with Clongriffin via Dublin Airport. The specific timing for the introduction of the route will depend on operational readiness but it could potentially be introduced within the next year. To be clear, next year, that is, by the end of 2026, is what we are working towards, depending on operational readiness. I am not sure where the information Ongar Tidy Towns has is from; it is obviously well meaning. This route is required. The Deputy is correct to say that thousands of her constituents work in the airport. That is why I back the airport.”
“I thank the Deputy. She will be aware that such a route is planned to be introduced as part of BusConnects, which is the largest-ever investment programme in the bus system in the history of the State, funded by the Government on behalf of our citizens and managed by the NTA. Since its commencement in 2021, BusConnects Dublin has seen over 100 new double-decker electric buses enter into service across Dublin, with significant investment made in depot electrification to support the buses, as well as the implementation of multiple phases of new bus services under the network redesign. Earlier this summer, I was delighted to attend the contract signing of the first of the 12 core BusConnects corridors with construction of one to start this year and another to enter construction next year.”
“There are regulations. The Deputy has stated on the record of the House that there are no regulations. That is not true. It is incorrect. That might work at a public meeting he is at or hosting with Deputy Coppinger to try to drum up further discontent. Undoubtedly, there are people impacted by it and that is why we need to ensure that there are proper designated zones and proper planning is followed. This is a sector in its relative infancy, however. It has grown very quickly. The previous Administration and Minister for Transport did not deal with this. In a few short months, I have brought out something we can work with and on which we can base the implementation on which we can base what we do next regarding further regulation in Ireland. We have done that within a very short space of time. Contrast that with my predecessor.”
“The reality is that this is an emerging sector. It is in its infancy. We can be at the leading edge of innovation in this sector. To answer the Deputy's question directly, the implementation of this framework is the whole purpose of the monitoring group. We have to start from somewhere. We are one of the first countries, if not the first, to publish such a framework document. It will be managed within my Department and will report to me. We will have input from communities, as we have already had, from professional operators and from the technological side. It is an advancing industry and sector that we should embrace. It needs to be done in conjunction with communities, however.”
“I know the Deputy's area very well. We have adjacent constituencies. I have spoken to many people in the Blanchardstown-Castleknock area. There has been a change. Many deliveries are being made by drone that would have been made by car, van and other methods. That is another consideration and something to think about. Do we want more traffic or do we want drones? We have to manage that with communities. Deputy Coppinger can laugh all she likes.”
“My Department will shortly be making arrangements for the establishment of a national UAS policy framework monitoring group and the associated working groups to be established under the framework. That monitoring group, which will be chaired by my Department, will monitor, guide and support the implementation of the policy framework and, really importantly, the delivery of actions.”
“The policy framework was developed through cross-departmental engagement structures and will be implemented through similar structures. It proposes a number of structures and actions that aim to address concerns in relation to increasing UAS usage and operations in balance with the realisation of the economic and societal benefits from this emerging drone sector. The policy framework proposes 16 actions in three main areas: the use of airspace and planning; compliance and enforcement; and enterprise and innovation. Implementation of the policy framework relies on a cross-governmental approach and the continuation of engagement and support from various Government Departments, agencies, the UAS sector itself and, really importantly, the public.”
“I thank Deputy O'Gorman. He has indeed raised this matter here before. I launched the National Policy Framework on Unmanned Aircraft Systems, or drones, on 20 August 2025, making Ireland one of the first European Union member states to publish a dedicated policy in relation to drones. The policy framework aims to guide high-level strategic planning for, and the development of, the UAS sector in Ireland through supporting growth and innovation while, really importantly, ensuring safe and secure operations and managing environmental, community and other concerns. Many of the issues addressed in the policy framework fall directly within my remit and that of the Department of Transport while other issues cross over into the areas of responsibility of other Departments and agencies.”
“There has been an increase already year on year of approximately 10.5%. People are responding to the better services that are there but we still need to work to improve them.”
“I do get the point. A number of our rail cars and rail lines have the facilities on the trains. I have looked, and I have asked Iarnród Éireann and the NTA to explore other options, including the option Deputy Daly has articulated here today. I am hopeful this will bear fruit shortly. Deputy Daly has asked this question regularly, as have Government colleagues. I understand the position. I will revert once the discussions have concluded and we have options that would be affordable and would make sense whereby we are not paying out more money through the PSO when those moneys could be used to provide additional services. Deputies here understandably look for additional services because more and more people are using public transport. There were 330 million passenger journeys last year.”
“To answer Deputy Daly's question, I have encouraged Iarnród Éireann and the NTA to explore other avenues to support the wider reintroduction of catering services. I was honest with Deputy Daly about the costs. If the NTA were to award a contract at four times the cost of what operated prior to Covid, questions would rightly be asked about it. I have asked the NTA and Iarnród Éireann to explore other options and to revert to me. I hope these discussions might bear fruit shortly. I will keep Deputy Daly informed on it. I do think it is important, and I was not being flippant earlier, that there has been significant investment in our stations, including from an accessibility perspective. Yesterday in the Department I met a disabled transport user group. They were very informative on their lived experience about accessibility.”
“Iarnród Éireann has had to deliver the service on a limited basis, within the available funding. A full tender process was undertaken for catering services across the Intercity network within current public service obligation funding. While the costs have been determined, Iarnród Éireann has only been in a position to restore catering services on the Dublin to Cork route with an Irish company, Carriage Food Services Limited, on an interim basis. As Deputy Daly knows, on-board catering is also available on the Dublin to Belfast Enterprise service, which is jointly operated by Iarnród Éireann and Translink and provided under a separate contract. The company continues to engage with the NTA and my Department on what is an important matter to people.”
“I will answer Deputy Daly. This is an issue he has raised previously with regard to when catering services will be rolled out again. I completely understand people's wish to see services return on all rail lines. However, if there is a choice between the taxpayer funding actual rail services or catering services on trains I am clear, as I have been previously, that taxpayer funding is best directed towards providing rail services themselves. I understand from Iarnród Éireann that it has been working to restore catering services where possible following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions on rail services. It has been engaging extensively with a range of operators in the market. However, the reality is that costs have significantly increased, at up to four times the previous levels quoted.”
“Not being flippant but I also saw some really good shops in Heuston Station, and good work has been done at stations throughout the network whereby people can buy a drink, a bottle of water or a cup of tea. Having said this, to be fair-----”
“I have said I will take cognisance of this and, in fairness, Deputy Connolly has raised it previously. Certainly it is something on which I will revert with regard to what other measures can be taken in the interim. We are doing work on the commuter rail network as Deputy Connolly knows. Significant work is being done at Ceannt Station, Oranmore Station and other stations. I take Deputy Connolly's point on park and ride and I will revert to her on it.”
“Going down Lough Atalia Road, trying to get through Salthill on the way to south Connemara at any time during the day-----”
“Something I will be cognisant of is how in the interim the situation can be made better. However, I would earnestly hope that should a positive decision from An Coimisiún Pleanála be made then that decision is accepted and we can move on with it. One of the reasons for the continued delay has been continued objection to the road. Deputy Connolly mentioned the reason the board turned it down. It was for climate reasons and that is fine. Deputy Connolly represents Galway West and knows the city better than me. I have a lot of friends in Galway and I speak to many people. Most people are very supportive of an outer ring road. Deputy Connolly is in Galway every day of the week. I am not there as frequently as she is but I am there quite often.”
“I explained in my initial answer that the light rail feasibility study, as the Deputy knows, had been published. What I am trying to say is how all of that knits together. The road is an important part of it. A simple question that I could ask in countering what the Deputy said, and respecting the position she is taking, is whether the traffic situation in Galway would be better with an outer ring road. It would be, unquestionably. We want to get people out of cars, too. I am a supporter of light rail, heavy rail and public transport. We want to see it and we are seeing rail lines open across the country now and, building on the work of my predecessor, we intend to accelerate that. I take the Deputy’s point in relation to park and ride. She has, to be fair, raised it on a number of occasions here before.”
“It is about the overall strategy and understanding what the decision from An Coimisiún Pleanála will be. There is BusConnects Galway, the Dublin Road scheme and many other things from Moneenageisha right the way through, so there are good things happening but the decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála will be fundamental to the decision on how we move forward.”
“Work is happening within Galway right now that I referenced in my initial response to the Deputy. I understand the need to look at the overall strategy on the basis of what An Coimisiún Pleanála's decision will be in relation to the ring road itself. Even those who may have opposed the road for what they believed were valid reasons would understand that it would be a critical part. If the road were not to be approved at the end at all, we would then have to look at other options. That is what the Deputy enunciated here this evening, too. I believe that Galway needs that ring road and Galway needs further public transport. It is a vibrant city, a city that I love, and the county too, but it has been choked by traffic. I have many friends there and a daughter who spends every year in the Gaeltacht in south Connemara, so I know it very well.”
“Regardless of the Deputy’s own views, and she has taken a position on the ring road, one could discuss the delays and why it has taken so long. People have had their say and there are judicial reviews. That is the planning process. The Deputy mentioned the Department’s own study and the reality that, even if that road was built, it would be under pressure but Galway - the Deputy lives in Galway and I know it extremely well, too - is under ferocious pressure because that road is not built. I am a big supporter of public transport and rail in particular. The national development plan, which we have just concluded the review of, has allocated every one in four euro between now and 2030 towards transport and transport infrastructure and rail, light rail and heavy rail will be a critical part of that.”
“The NTA is of the view, and I agree, that this updated information must be considered in the preparation of the strategic roads feasibility study and the GMATS and prior to publication of a draft strategy for public consultation. That decision from An Coimisiún Pleanála will be critical to how the overall transport system works. I know this is a matter close to the Deputy’s heart, so I am not trying in any way to be disagreeable but I want to acknowledge the projects that are happening and are in place. The ring road will be critical in the decision on the future of the city of Galway and its transport network.”
“That feasibility study is not a stand-alone document and has been published for information only. The feasibility study does not identify a preferred alignment for light rail in the study area and is only intended to explore issues and potential feasibility. The indicative route options presented in the final report would need to be explored further, following any decision to further progress light rail for the city. I know the Deputy will be acutely aware that in January 2023, the High Court remitted the application for approval of the N6 Galway city ring road back to An Coimisiún Pleanála for further consideration. Galway County Council submitted an updated environmental impact assessment report and the Natura impact statement to An Coimisiún Pleanála on 15 April 2025 in relation to the N6 Galway city ring road.”
“The Deputy will no doubt be aware of, and welcome, the funding the Government has made available to support the redevelopment of Ceannt Station, the expansion of Oranmore Station, the progression of BusConnects Galway, delivery of active travel projects in the city and county on a scale we have not seen before and the opening of the Moycullen bypass. As part of the development of the new strategy, mode-specific analysis in the form of a light rail feasibility study and a strategic roads feasibility study will form part of the analysis used to inform the development of the multimodal GMATS, alongside recommendations for active travel, bus, rail, roads and demand-management measures. The light rail feasibility study was published by the NTA on 30 October 2024.”
“I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 119 together. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht na gceisteanna tábhachtacha. Aontaím léi faoi chathair na Gaillimhe. The National Transport Authority is currently developing the Galway metropolitan area transport strategy in conjunction with Galway City Council and Galway County Council. It will replace the existing Galway transport strategy the Deputy referred to, which was adopted in 2016. It is important to note that while the development continues, investment in Galway's transport network continues. It is taking place in line with the existing strategy.”
“It will be on Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann, Luas, DART and intercity rail. It is a significant roll-out and we have to do it while keeping the existing system fully operational. It will also require the replacement of a lot of validators. We will be watching it carefully.”
“The NTA has a lot under its remit. I have confidence it will deliver it. I have met the programme manager and have asked many of the questions the Deputy just put. That is my job and I should do so. It is a significant investment on the part of the Exchequer. It will make a big difference to commuters. I mentioned earlier in responses to colleagues in the House the significant increase in public transport journeys we are seeing. People are responding to affordable, sustainable and punctual public transport. We can always improve and we need to continue to improve. This system will be better than the one that operates in London. People always use the example of Britain. The system that operates in London and other parts of Britain is not countrywide. This will be countrywide on all public transport.”
“That is a commitment not only to this project, but to further work it may do. The Deputy can be assured that I am getting monthly reports. I will be meeting the company again early in the new year and we have to hit those timeframes of the phase 1 roll-out.”
“To be fair, the contract was only awarded in August 2024, so that is how long we have been waiting. It is now the end of September 2025. I met the chief executive who came to my offices in Leeson Lane. I put to him the very point the Deputy put about the national train control centre. There are many reasons for that overrun, but it will deliver a state-of-the-art centre. Having said that, the company has delivered ticketless systems across the world and done so very well. I have confidence that it will be able to do so here. I have asked the NTA for monthly reports to give me progress updates. I am also pleased that Indra is now opening new European offices in Dublin, showing commitment to Ireland. While it had staff here, it is now opening full-time offices here, including a new office in Dublin.”
“Plans for phases 3 and 4 are under development. I met Indra and the NTA only a number of weeks ago. I am watching the project very closely myself. I gave a commitment to the House prior to the recess that I would meet the developers of the system and I have done so. I will continue to do so.”
“The good news, however, is that we do now have the funding available to make the move to new technology and the National Transport Authority has entered into a contract with Indra to deliver the project. The initial focus of the project is on the greater Dublin area, rolled out across four phases. This is a major, complex project, with an estimated capital cost of over €160 million to implement it in the greater Dublin area alone. Phase 1 is due to launch in summer 2027, which will test contactless payment on a small number of new validators or ticket machines. As we do this, obviously, we have to keep Leap running as well. Phase 2 will be ready in the summer of 2028, allowing passengers on bus and Luas services to use the next generation ticketing technology, including contactless payments on validators.”
“I thank Deputy Boland. Like the Deputy, I am eager to see next generation ticketing rolled out on the Irish public transport system. This will be across the whole Twenty-six Counties, across our whole transport system, that is, rail, bus and Luas. I look forward to seeing its introduction as part of BusConnects Dublin before ultimately being delivered across the entire public transport network. I acknowledge there is a sense of frustration among many that contactless systems of payment are not available here as they are in other countries, as well as a sense of frustration at the time it is taking to deliver the system here at home. The fact is we introduced a new ticketing system, Leap, just as the financial crisis took hold and investment in ticketing technology was cut back and took a long time to recover. That is just the truth of it.”
“That is not just capacity in the lines themselves, it is in the carriages. We have secured the first phase of the new carriages, which were purchased by the last Government. They will be initially rolled out on the northern line and then all the way across the country. That will add to the rolling stock we have. The passing loop will happen. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, gave the Deputy a very detailed response in our last oral questions here on transport about matters specifically in the Deputy's constituency. During the coming weeks, we will publish the transport sectoral plan”
“To ensure balanced regional development, the national planning framework will guide that and the NDP itself. As for the commitments we have made in the programme for Government, the two parties and the Independents came together to ensure and commit to a balanced regional development and we will ensure that it happens. This morning, I met the incoming new chief executive of Iarnród Éireann at Heuston Station. That was on the occasion of our announcement of the companion pass for the over-70s that means over 500,000 additional people will be able to avail of free transport when accompanying the over-70s. We introduced the five-to-eight-year-old free travel card across all our networks. We want more and more people to use our public transport. That is happening but we must make sure we have more capacity.”
“We are seeing rail lines progress, as I mentioned in my response to Deputy Daly, such as Foynes, the Cork commuter rail and the work being done in Galway. I note Deputy Connolly is present as well. We have a lot to do in that space. We will be publishing each departmental plan around the NDP. One euro in four of investment secured is going into public transport.”
“I thank the Deputy. He is advocating strongly for his own area and I believe he would agree that while a lot of progress has been made in the past five or ten years on infrastructural investment and infrastructure full stop, as our population - thankfully - continues to grow and as our economy thankfully is still in full employment because of the hard work of our people and the economic and policy decisions made by this Government and the previous one, we must make sure we catch up where there are infrastructural deficits. In the coming weeks, the Department of Transport and all Departments effectively will be publishing their own NDP. That will be a sectoral analysis, detailing the projects that will be included as we do in the roads programme. We see roads progressing, and we are seeing roads being built.”
“In developing that plan, I will obviously take cognisance of commitments under the programme for Government, as well as overarching policy commitments already made under the national planning framework, the climate action plan and the sustainable mobility plan. Things like transport-orientated development are going to be critical to enable us to build more homes to add to the 135,000 homes we built in the past five years. A real area of focus for the Government is linking all our critical infrastructure investment to support the delivery of large-scale housing. We have a real opportunity to do that and transport-orientated development in that regard will greatly assist.”
“As with all other Departments, we are now preparing a transport sectoral plan, as I mentioned to Deputy Daly, for publication in the coming weeks, which will provide further sectoral details in relation to the distribution of those investments and that allocation across the various programmes right across the Department. The Deputy asked about criteria. A clear focus of that plan will be on providing greater certainty on the projects and programmes that will advance and get delivered in the next five years. Deliverability and commencement of projects, and obviously making sure projects are moving through planning, are particularly important.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question, which follows on very much from the question asked by his party's spokesperson. The Deputy will be aware that transport was one of the four prioritised areas for investment under this NDP review and we secured a core allocation of €22.3 billion across the next five years, with a further €2 billion allocated from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund to assist with the delivery of MetroLink. The allocation is significant both as a share of the overall NDP investment and in comparison with the last five years, which saw approximately €13 billion allocated toward transport between 2021 and 2025. It shows the much-needed and significant increase in that capital funding.”
“That is why the previous Government brought in the planning and development Act, which was opposed by others. That is fair enough. It is their right to do so. It is now about doing this efficiently and getting it done. We all share an absolute view that we need to maintain an affordable and sustainable public transport system for our people.”
“Last year we saw the highest number of public transport passenger journeys that we had ever seen. There were about 330 million passenger journeys. The good news is that in the month of August we were up about 10.5% on the comparable month last year. We want to maintain a sustainable and affordable public transport system. I advise the Deputy not to believe everything he reads in the newspapers in that regard. A balance is required to ensure that we continue investment in our public transport services and also investment in our roads. Along with the Ministers of State, Deputies Buttimer and Canney, later this year I intend to announce the 2026 roads programme, which will be a further increase on what we have been able to do this year. Delivery is key, and delivering faster and more efficiently.”
“MetroLink is a critical project, which I understand the Deputy's party supports. This is the first Government to fund it. It is not just for Dublin, the north Dublin region, Swords or the airport. It will be an economic driver for the whole region. A number of projects are all under way right across the country. We can actually see that. To answer the Deputy's question directly, we will be publishing a departmental NDP in the coming weeks and listing projects that are under way and how we are going to complete them.”
“Capital has been secured through the NDP. It is a fully funded multi-annual plan. In the coming weeks, each Department, including my own, will publish departmental NDP plans setting out specific projects. I could stand here for the next two hours listing the projects that are under way but I will give only a couple of examples. Phase 1 of the Cork area commuter rail programme is scheduled to be completed next year. There are ongoing station upgrades at Galway Ceannt and Oranmore, as well as the construction of a new Waterford Plunkett Station. These investments will increase accessibility and reliability for passengers, provide interconnectivity of different transport networks and further develop the overall availability of efficient public transport across a number of regions.”
“In the north west, we are funding Donegal County Council's trans-European transport network, TEN-T, improvement project - unfortunately, Deputy Charles Ward has left the Chamber - which will likely represent the largest single investment in infrastructure in the north west and the construction of which will be delivered through funding I have secured on behalf of our citizens as part of the NDP review. That is just a snapshot of the investments being made by the Government. Wherever I have been since assuming office, I have seen at first hand the impact of new and improved bus services in rural Ireland and connectivity between rural towns, as the Minister of State outlined in his response to the previous question. Yes, we need to do a lot more.”
“In Cork, I attended the contract signing for the M28 Ringaskiddy project, which will benefit the entire south-west region by providing much-needed improved access to the Port of Cork, thereby enhancing competitiveness for the region as a whole. In Limerick, I have been on site to see the progress being made on the Adare bypass. It is being delivered as the first phase of the overall N69 Foynes to Limerick project, which will play a similar role for the mid-west in improving access to the Port of Foynes and will be complemented by the work under way on reopening the rail link to the port as well. These are real projects that are actually happening.”