Maurice Quinlivan
Limerick City · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“The Kilteragh estate in Dooradoyle, where hundreds of homes are also located, has no bus service. The nearest bus stop is located outside the Crescent Shopping Centre, which is 2 km away. Another area that is lacking a bus service is that which lies between St.”
“In recent years, there have been some improvements on the bus transport in Limerick city, with routes such as the 310 from Annacotty to the city centre being rolled out. These new routes and improvements have to be welcomed, but significant gaps remain in the provision of bus services across Limerick city.”
“We have already seen a four-year delay in the delivery of BusConnects, which has impacted the economic development and liveability of Limerick. When raising the issue of University Hospital Limerick on many occasions, I have spoken about the growing population of Limerick and the wider mid-west region.”
“We have faced major challenges in making the Limerick city centre a liveable and enjoyable place. Efforts have been made to improve the city and make it a more attractive place to visit and enjoy. We have had some great success with the promotion of King John's Castle as a music venue, Thomond Park and the annual Great Limerick Run.”
“As stated, good progress has been made regarding transport in the mid-west, but we still lag way behind other areas across the State. Last year, I published a report on bus infrastructure in areas on the north side of Limerick City.”
“What they have done with the route, with buses coming onto O’Callaghan Avenue from Kileely and then onto the High Road and Thomond at Johnseys shop, is very dangerous. The road has been narrowed so much that buses have to mount the footpaths on both sides. Somebody is going to get seriously injured unless something is done.”
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“In the absence of BusConnects being done, I call on the Minister of State to ensure that the bus service in the St. Mary’s Park and Garryowen areas is extended and that a proper service is provided. There is a bus service in place, but it comes to an end at 6 p.m. each day. We also need a bus service for the Condell Road. We cannot wait for that. There is potential for the bus that serves Pineview Gardens to also serve Condell Road. When the Knockalisheen Road is opened, this problem could be solved. If we really want people to use bus services - I do and I use buses when I can - they have to be safe, reliable and affordable.”
“What they have done with the route, with buses coming onto O’Callaghan Avenue from Kileely and then onto the High Road and Thomond at Johnseys shop, is very dangerous. The road has been narrowed so much that buses have to mount the footpaths on both sides. Somebody is going to get seriously injured unless something is done. The engineers involved in the active travel scheme have told me that they will look at what has happened when the project is finished. We cannot wait for that. The other day, someone walking on the footpath was nearly killed. That because buses cannot turn the corner without mounting the footpath on one side or the other. Buses often bypass this area, which they are supposed to serve, on their way to Moyross.”
“As stated, good progress has been made regarding transport in the mid-west, but we still lag way behind other areas across the State. Last year, I published a report on bus infrastructure in areas on the north side of Limerick City. It clearly showed that working class areas lack basic services and that they had no bus stops, signage or bus shelters. Some work was done on the back of that report. Some of the signage has been put up in the Ballynanty area where I live and where was no bus stop or signage previously. I want to mention the 303 bus route that runs from Ros Mór to Kileely to Moyross. There is a very good and reliable bus service on that route, with buses leaving every 15 minutes. We are doing an active travel scheme in the area at the moment.”
“The Minister of State needs to ensure that the necessary funding is provided promptly. BusConnects across the State is yet another example of the Government's consistent failure to meet target delivery dates. Of course, it has failed, with costs in excess of initial estimates. I urge the Minister of State to get onto the National Transport Authority, NTA, to tell it to end the delays relating to BusConnects in Limerick, to get the project back on track and to get bus services delivered for the people who need them.”
“We have already seen a four-year delay in the delivery of BusConnects, which has impacted the economic development and liveability of Limerick. When raising the issue of University Hospital Limerick on many occasions, I have spoken about the growing population of Limerick and the wider mid-west region. The growth in population also makes the delivery of a functional, affordable and viable public transport system critical. Limerick BusConnects has the potential to transform connectivity within the city and between its suburbs, thereby improving access to employment and education, reducing congestion and delivering on commitments relating to sustainability. I see no desire to provide this urgently needed funding for BusConnects in Limerick in order that it can progress. This must change.”
“To date, BusConnects has achieved some progress, particularly in the context of services on new roads, and there has been an increase in passenger numbers. In Limerick, however, the BusConnects project has been marked by shortcomings in planning, funding and delivery. It is nearly a decade since the announcement of BusConnects and the projected completion date of 2027, but the timelines across the area to which I refer have been pushed out to 2030. The project has been plagued by delays and postponements. In Limerick, frankly, it has not been delivered. The costs relating to the project have spiralled, with an estimated increase in cost from the initial €1 billion to between €2.6 billion and €3.4 billion.”
“We have faced major challenges in making the Limerick city centre a liveable and enjoyable place. Efforts have been made to improve the city and make it a more attractive place to visit and enjoy. We have had some great success with the promotion of King John's Castle as a music venue, Thomond Park and the annual Great Limerick Run. In light of the need to revitalise the city, it seems extraordinary that the residents of St. Mary's Park and Garryowen cannot avail of public transport to visit the city centre. We are also trying to promote a more sustainable future. The use of public transport is crucial in this regard. Not everyone has the luxury of their own vehicle, yet there are populated areas of Limerick that do not have access to a properly functioning transport system.”
“The Kilteragh estate in Dooradoyle, where hundreds of homes are also located, has no bus service. The nearest bus stop is located outside the Crescent Shopping Centre, which is 2 km away. Another area that is lacking a bus service is that which lies between St. Mary's Park, the most deprived area in the whole city, and the Garryowen area. While the area has a bus route, the service ends at 6 p.m. The latter is due to a legacy issue dating back a number of years and that needs to be resolved in order that we can see the return of a proper bus service. The area in question has the lowest level of car ownership in the city, with an estimated 57% of householders not having access to cars. In addition, the population in the area is ageing. Having their bus service end before nightfall is absurd in this day and age.”
“In recent years, there have been some improvements on the bus transport in Limerick city, with routes such as the 310 from Annacotty to the city centre being rolled out. These new routes and improvements have to be welcomed, but significant gaps remain in the provision of bus services across Limerick city. Condell Road in Limerick is an example in this regard. Hundreds of new homes, which were built in recent years and in which families and workers live, are located on this road and in the surrounding area. The road itself is well laid out and has a significant amount of bus infrastructure, including a bus lane, yet there is no local bus services in the area. I do not understand how such a densely populated area with the necessary infrastructure in place does not have an active bus service.”
“I urge parties to support the motion's objectives of increasing the number of early years places and school-age childcare hours in September, the immediate review of the core funding scheme and publication of the details on how the Government is going to deliver €200 per month childcare with a clear timescale on how it will be achieved.”
“The State must be prepared to work towards taking responsibility for employment costs and wages where necessary. Crèches across the State are coming under huge pressure due to the lack of sufficient core funding. One crèche in a Limerick suburb faced the prospect of closing its kitchen due to the lack of funding, adding to the cost for families who must spend more to provide meals for their children attending the creche. The core funding scheme must be reviewed. It should be done with a view to indexing it to inflation. Crèches and childcare facilities throughout the State are functioning month to month due to increases in the costs they face.”
“In one of the most disadvantaged areas of Limerick, Ballinacurra Weston, there are 214 children on a waiting list with no early childcare places from September at Our Lady of Lourdes Community Centre. The staff in the local facility are faced with prospect of having to tell parents that there is no place available for their child. Childcare is not a luxury for families; it is a necessity that allows parents to go to work. While many parents struggle to find a place for their child, other parents worry that the childcare arrangements could suddenly end because of the difficulty faced in retaining early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners. It is abundantly clear from talking to those in the profession that the current employment regulation order is not working.”
“The cost-of-living crisis is impacting families of all backgrounds. The bite is being felt at the petrol pump, at the grocery till, in the utility bills and beyond. For working families, one of the most expensive monthly outlays is childcare fees. Families in Limerick with both parents working full time who are not fortunate enough to have additional family support are paying up to €300 per week on crèche fees. For those availing of a childminder, the fee is closer to €250 per week, which is a significant expense, particularly during a cost-of-living crisis that has stripped families of available income. These are, of course, families who have been fortunate enough to secure childcare places in the first place. Up to 50,000 children across the State remain on waiting lists for childcare places that do not exist.”
“From those discussions there is absolutely no doubt that they are ready and willing to see an increase in the use of the airport for traffic. The lifting of the cap at Dublin Airport is undoubtedly necessary but this Bill stands as a missed opportunity to deliver meaningful regional development. The level of support provided to regional airports has, so far, been insufficient. Quite simply, ambition is not matched by support. An opportunity exists to enhance the performance of Shannon Airport and this must be seized at the moment.”
“Within Shannon we have an industrial estate not too far away and in my city of Limerick we have several large international companies across numerous industrial estates that would benefit greatly from increased capacity and an increase in destinations serviced by Shannon Airport. Further to this, the airport serves as a gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way and some of the best golf courses in the world. Having worked in the travel and tourism industry for nearly 20 years, I understand the challenge of attracting additional routes and new airlines to airports outside of Dublin. The Shannon Airport Oireachtas group, of which I am a member, is a cross-party group of mid-west TDs and has met many times with the Shannon Airport Group.”
“The potential is there to deliver much more. Shannon Airport has been performing well but has the capacity to grow its numbers easily enough. Its terminal has the capacity to handle up to 5,000 passengers. The year 2025 was the airport's most successful in 16 years, with 2.3 million passengers using the airport. Today, while we talk about the necessity of lifting the cap at Dublin Airport, we must also give consideration to enhancing capacity at Shannon Airport, an enhancement that should coincide with improved public transport services to the airport. The mid-west, where Shannon Airport is situated, is uniquely positioned to drive regional balanced development. Shannon Airport has been the fulcrum around which the economy of the mid-west has been built.”
“This level of funding spread across airports and across years is far short of what is needed if we are serious about improving connectivity, expanding routes and developing sustainable regional economic growth. Shannon Airport has been performing very well. In quarter 1 of this year, 427,655 passengers used the airport, which is an increase of 11% on the 385,000 who used the airport in the same period in 2025. Comparing these periods, there was an even greater increase in the transport of cargo through the airport, with 5,443 tonnes passing through in quarter 1 this year, which is a 53% increase on quarter 1 of 2025. Increasing the use of Shannon Airport is crucial to improve the regional balance. A 2023 report noted that operations by Shannon Airport Group contributed €4 billion to the Irish economy.”
“We will be introducing amendments to address gaps regarding regional development and an absence of an all-Ireland aspect to the Bill. The very fact that Dublin Airport is exceeding the cap by 12.5% shows there is great potential to expand capacity at our regional airports, specifically at Shannon Airport. Balanced regional development is essential to ensuring prosperity across Ireland and, as such, we need to see more ambition when it comes to the development of Ireland's regional airports. With 88% of all passenger traffic coming through Dublin, there is huge opportunity to expand the performance of our regional airports. Simply put, there has been insufficient capital funding to our regional airports, with only €82.3 million assigned for the whole decade to 2030.”
“As an island with a dispersed population, connectivity is crucial to our continued economic development. To continue this development it is necessary to lift the passenger cap in Dublin Airport while also focusing on delivering balanced regional aviation growth. That is something I suggest this Government and its predecessor have failed to do. Last year, Dublin Airport exceeded the passenger cap by more than 4 million passengers. The 32 million passenger cap must now be removed. If not, and due to legal challenges, there is a danger that the Irish Aviation Authority could be forced into enforcing this cap more strictly, which will negatively impact our wider economy particularly our foreign direct investment jobs and tourism economy. While we in Sinn Féin are supportive of the Bill, we are not uncritical of it.”
“I thank the members of the committee and committee secretariat for their work in developing the report and all of those who engaged with the committee throughout the process. The committee hopes that the recommendations contained in the report will assist in advancing an education system in which every learner is valued, supported and enabled to participate fully. I again thank everybody who contributed to the report.”
“Last week, as Deputy Ó Murchú said, members of the Committee on Disability Matters visited New York city to attend events around the application of the United Nations CRPD on its twentieth anniversary. The committee's recommendation provides a practical roadmap to advance inclusive education in Ireland, in line with Article 24 of the UN CRPD. I take this opportunity to thank ambassador Fergal Mythen and the team at Ireland's permanent mission to the UN for the fantastic support they gave the committee in terms of organising meetings and events and hosting meetings at the permanent mission across the road from the UN. The meetings were very useful and there were learning experiences for all of us.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his kind and supportive comments for the committee and its members. It is much appreciated. I thank all of the members of the committee who contributed to the report, turned up to meetings, read all of the submissions, made suggestions, changes and amendments and helped us to deliver what I believe is a good report. I hope it will be accepted. I want to I record my thanks to the committee secretariat, ably led by Mairead O'Donovan and supported by Ronan O'Connor and Tracey Driscoll, who did a fantastic job in delivering the report. Inclusive education, as I said, is not simply about access to school places but also participation, belonging, communications, achievement and equal opportunities.”
“The committee believes that the implementation of these recommendations will support the development of an education system in which all learners, regardless of their disability, are able to participate fully, achieve their potential and enjoy equal opportunities throughout their educational journey. I look forward to other Members' contributions. I will come back in at the end of the debate.”
“The committee, therefore, emphasised the importance of consultation and coproduction with disabled learners, families and disabled organisations in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the principle of "nothing about us, without us". The committee recognises that achieving inclusive education will require sustained implementation, co-ordination and accountability across government. The report, therefore, recommends a co-ordinated approach to implementation and involving the education, health and disability sectors. Progress will depend, not only education policy, but also on disability services, health support, transport, workforce planning and broader societal inclusion.”
“The committee recommended that reduced timetables should be used only in exceptional circumstances for the shortest possible period and subject to appropriate safeguards and oversight. The committee also heard evidence regarding the need for stronger data collection and monitoring and accountability mechanisms to support evidence-based policymaking and measures progressing towards inclusion. The committee recommended improved collection and publication of data to support planning, transparency and accountability across the education system. A consistent message throughout the committee's work was that disabled people and their representative organisations must be involved in the development of policies that affect their lives.”
“The committee also examined transitions between early years settings, primary education, post-primary education and further and higher education which were identified as particular points of vulnerability for learners with disabilities. The committee recommended improving planning, co-ordination and continuity of support during these transitions. The committee considered barriers experienced by disabled learners in further and higher education and recommended continued action to improve accessibility, participation and support across all stages of the education system. Evidence received by the committee highlighted concerns regarding the use of reduced timetables and the impact that such arrangements can have on educational participation.”
“Witnesses highlighted the benefit of inclusive education practices and school environments that are designed to accommodate diverse learners from the outset. The committee, therefore, recommended the further embedding of universal design for learning principles across teacher education, continued professional development and classroom practice. The committee heard evidence regarding the value of multidisciplinary working and the importance of closer collaboration between education, health and disability services. The committee recommended the expansion of initiatives, such as the in-school therapy support demonstration project and strengthened inter-agency co-ordination to support learners and families.”
“Particular attention was drawn to the experience of deaf learners, the implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 and the importance of ensuring access to Irish Sign Language and other communication supports, including augmentative and alternative communications. The committee recommends strengthening the implementation of communication rights and improved access to the supports necessary to enable learners to participate fully in education. The committee also heard evidence regarding the importance of learner voice and participation in decision making. The committee emphasised that disabled learners should be supported to participate in decisions affecting their education and that their views should be taken into account in education planning and policy development.”
“The committee recommends that access to supports become increasingly responsive to the needs of learners and less dependent on diagnostic labels alone. The committee also heard significant evidence regarding workforce shortages across educational psychology, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and other specialist services. Witnesses highlighted the impact these shortages can have on participation, communication, educational attainment and well-being. The committee, therefore, recommends the development of a national workforce plan to address staffing shortages and improve access to specialist supports. The committee heard strong evidence regarding the importance of communication rights and access to appropriate communication supports.”
“The committee therefore recommends that legislation, policy and practice be reviewed and strengthened to support a rights-based approach to inclusive education to advance Ireland's obligations under the convention. Witnesses emphasised that inclusive education is not solely about access to supports and services. It is also about ensuring that learners experience belonging, participation, dignity and respect within their schools and education communities. The committee heard that many families continue to experience difficulties accessing educational supports and services. Witnesses highlighted the importance of ensuring that supports are responsive to the needs of learners and are available in a timely and equitable manner.”
“The committee's 33 recommendations provide a practical roadmap towards a more inclusive education system. The committee heard that significant progress has been made in recent years through investment in special educational supports, special classes and additional teaching resources. However, witnesses also identified significant barriers that continue to impede the full realisation of inclusive education. A recurring theme throughout the committee's engagement was the need to strengthen Ireland's legislative and policy framework so that it more fully reflects the principles and requirements of Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.”
“On the report itself, the Joint Committee on Disability Matters undertook a comprehensive examination of inclusive education for persons with disabilities through a programme of public meetings, engagements with stakeholders and consideration of written submissions. The committee's work was guided by Article 24 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which recognises the right of persons with disabilities to education without discrimination on the basis of equal opportunity. The committee considers inclusive education to be a fundamental rights issue. Inclusive education is not solely about where a child is educated. It is about ensuring that all learners can participate, communicate, belong and achieve their full potential within the education system.”
“It is a model that could be looked at as part of needed changes to how we deal with the issue of special education. We cannot rinse and repeat the same tired and outdated approach to special educational needs. We need to do much better. The community of Moyross has faced many challenges over the years, from organised crime and drug dealing to violent feuds and deprivation. The work community members have done, particularly in partnership with the local school, has turned the area into a thriving community with one of the best primary schools in Limerick, if not the best. I mention this just to highlight how important inclusive education is not just for children but for their teachers, their family members and the wider community.”
“While reading the report, I encourage the Minister of State and his officials to look especially at the Sky is the Limit programme operating in Corpus Christi Primary School in Moyross in my constituency of Limerick city. The school both presented before the committee and hosted members of the committee at the school on the importance of this inclusive education project. The project aims to provide psychological support to members of the school community and the surrounding community, recognising that education does not end at the school gate. The programme embeds counselling, therapy and family support services within the school environment, thus allowing pupils and parents to access help that would otherwise be difficult for them to navigate.”
“I move: That Dáil Éireann shall take note of the Report of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters entitled "Report on Inclusive Education for Persons with Disabilities", copies of which were laid before Dáil Éireann on 25th March, 2026. I welcome the opportunity to move this motion and to present the committee's report on inclusive education for persons with disabilities. I acknowledge the disabled learners, families, educators, representative organisations, service providers and other experts, especially Corpus Christi Primary School in my own constituency of Limerick city and St. James's Primary School in Dublin, who contributed to the committee's work. Their input was invaluable. Their lived experience, expertise and insights were central to the development of the report and its recommendations.”
“The stark reality facing many families is that the majority of local children will not have access to integrated early years education and family supports, and parental choice simply does not exist. Staff in the area are having to tell families they have no place for their child. Early intervention, as the Taoiseach knows, particularly in more disadvantaged areas, is critical to child development. I ask the Taoiseach to ensure that local demand will be met------”
“Ballinacurra Weston in Limerick is one of the most disadvantaged areas in this State. This time last year, the Minister, Deputy Calleary, acknowledged it was an area forgotten by the State and that it now has Government support. He made those comments while visiting Our Lady of Lourdes Community Centre. That same centre is now facing the daunting task of telling local families there are no early childcare places for their children. We are not just talking about a few families but, rather, 214 children on a waiting list who are unable to access early childcare places in Our Lady of Lourdes early years service. While staff are busy preparing for September, there are no playschool places available at all.”
“I welcome the new surgical hub regardless of whether it is delayed, but why is the funding being cut when the Government is fully aware of the crisis in emergency care at University Hospital Limerick?”
“I have raised a number of times over the years the capacity issues faced by University Hospital Limerick. The huge number of people on trolleys remains unacceptably high. One of the impacts of that is the number of outpatients waiting excessive amounts of time for appointments: 3,244 people have been on outpatient waiting lists for more than 12 months, with 981 of those waiting over 18 months for an appointment. Something that could be done to reduce these numbers is the opening of the new surgical hub at the site of the old Scoil Carmel. That was scheduled to open this month but has now been delayed until the end of the year. Not only is it being delayed, but it will now receive only 50% of the funding it requires to operate properly, making it difficult to complete the 20,000 annual procedures that had been planned for.”
“It is now a time for action. It is time to recognise those with a disability for who they are; people who bring great value to our island.”
“For those households where a member has severe limitations, this cost increases to 93% of their disposable income, leaving them with absolutely nothing. When we call for a lump sum payment and the introduction of the cost-of-disability scheme, this is not a call for charity. It is a call for justice. It is a call to ensure that every person, regardless of disability, has the right to participate fully in society. It is a demand that the State and the Government recognises the additional financial costs a person with a disability faces. It is a recognition of the cost of medication, the cost of assistive technology and the cost of home modifications. These are all expenses that should not push a family into poverty. It is past time for the Government to reverse these disgraceful cuts. It is past time for reviews and reports.”
“A 2024 Disability Federation of Ireland submission to the Department of Social Protection noted that 44.7% of people unable to work due to a disability experienced deprivation and 27% of them were at risk of poverty. What amazes me is that we know this and this was known to the Government, prior to last year's budget, and yet it still cruelly opted to cut necessary supports. It was a shameful decision that should be reversed by the introduction of an emergency budget with a €500 lump sum for disabled people. When the ESRI appeared before the disability matters committee, which I chair, in November 2025, it referenced a research programme it conducted with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission that estimated the cost of disability is between 52% and 59% of disposable income of disabled households.”
“These actions have been done and maintained despite the pleas of disability rights and campaigning groups and service users. Many of us have met them, whether in here or outside of the Dáil, where they had to protest themselves. Those living with a disability use the maxim "Nothing about us without us". However, when it comes to this Government, it presses ahead with a "Nothing for you regardless" approach. Our motion today is to support those living with a disability. It is supports their families. It is a response to the crippling costs that have been imposed on these families. While the costs remain and increase, the supports disappear.”
“People living with a disability face a double disadvantage. They face lower employment rates combined with a higher cost of living, as the Minister knows. Those living with a disability are entitled to an adequate standard of living, like the rest of us. That standard includes safe, accessible housing, nutritious food, quality healthcare, rehabilitation services, education and access to meaningful employment opportunities. Yet, this Government took the entitlements from them in last year's budget. It did so by withdrawing critical emergency supports for workers and families and through the withdrawal of €1,400 worth of cost-of-living supports for people with a disability. These actions have directly impacted the quality of life of those living with a disability.”
“If we have to wait for BusConnects, I ask the Minister of State and others to intervene to ensure that we have a bus on the Condell Road. People living there must have some sort of access to public transport because, at the moment, their nearest public transport option is approximately 30 minutes walk away. Many of them have small children and do not own cars.”
“We are already seeing a four-year delay in the delivery of BusConnects. It is impacting the economic development and liveability of Limerick. Every time we look for an improvement in bus services, we are told we have to wait for BusConnects to be done. Many times in this Chamber I have raised issues about University Hospital Limerick and the growing population in Limerick and the wider mid-west region. The growth in population also makes the delivery of a functional, affordable and reliable public transport system critical. Limerick BusConnects has the potential to transform connectivity within the city and its suburbs, improving access to employment and education while reducing congestion and delivering on commitments to sustainability. Yet, we see no desire to provide the urgently needed funding for BusConnects in Limerick.”
“It is only partially built. The first two sections are done and they have had a huge positive impact already on the traffic on the north side of Limerick city. I was on that road yesterday, as was Deputy Toole, whom I see sitting in the Chamber. It allowed us to get from Moyross to Dooradoyle in under ten minutes, which would have been inconceivable years ago. It is ridiculous, however, that some who live on the north side of such a small city must get two buses if they are studying at the University of Limerick or working in the adjacent technology park. If this Bill is passed, I hope this project can be considered and implemented. That is only one of a list of problems with public transport in Limerick, however. Perhaps the next most important issue is the delivery of BusConnects.”
“Initial drafts included a commitment to the delivery of the long sought-after northern distributor road, which has been acknowledged as being crucial for the development of the entire region. Indeed, the Minister of State, Deputy O’Donnell, a Fine Gael party colleague of the Minister of State and my constituency colleague, said in 2021: The Northern Distributor Road is a key piece of road infrastructure for Limerick and is vital for balanced connectivity and development across our city, including the provision of public bus transportation links. Yet, when the strategy was published, the northern distributor road was a glaring omission from the document, as it was from the national development plan. Recently, the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road, which some consider the first section of a northern distributor road, was opened.”
“One such area of Limerick is the Condell Road. There are approximately 400 houses and apartments and all the infrastructure for bus services along this road. The bus lane was put in when I was on the council, which is over ten years ago. It has bus lanes and bus shelters, but there is still no local bus service in the area, which is a farcical situation for those living there. Many of those people do not have cars. Not everyone has the luxury of having their own personal vehicle. Hundreds of people live in this urban area with no functioning public transport route. The Limerick-Shannon metropolitan area transport strategy, LSMATS, was published in December 2022, an ambitious 20-year strategy to deliver sustainable public transport infrastructure for the region. It had great promise.”
“The Government has failed consistently in the delivery of transport infrastructure. Projects experience delays, costs mount and progress occurs at a snail’s pace. I am proud to have been representing the people of Limerick in this House for over a decade. It has been the honour of my life. I tend to travel to Dublin by public transport, most regularly by train. Upon arriving in Dublin, I mostly use public transport to get to Leinster House. What I notice most – I am sure other Deputies will concur - is the contrast in provision of public transport in Dublin compared to Limerick. In Limerick, like many other counties, public transport provision is inadequate and forces people to depend on their car to commute. In Limerick, one will find buses serving roads with no bus infrastructure or no buses serving an area with bus infrastructure.”