Paul Murphy presses for fixes to overcrowded Dublin buses
Paul Murphy raised concerns about the state of bus services in Ballycolon, Noclion and Rathfarnham, saying routes 15 and 15B are routinely overcrowded and passengers are regularly left behind. He challenged the Government over apparent privatisation and delays to Bus Connects, pressing for immediate action to protect commuters and students.
Paul Murphy told the Dáil that the 15 is the busiest route in Dublin and the 15B is grossly overcrowded. He recounted constituents’ experiences that buses fill up after the first few stops and leave people waiting, including one person who now leaves home at 7.15 to get to work for nine, despite living five miles from the GPO, and a student afraid of missing exams.
He asked who is accountable for privatising the buses and said he did not recall having a vote on that change, warning that continued disruption could cost people their jobs. The comments framed privatisation as a central concern for affected commuters.
Murphy criticised repeated assurances that Bus Connects would solve problems, noting the A-spine is now delayed until Autumn 2026 at the earliest and saying it will likely be over capacity as soon as it starts. He stressed frustration that promised solutions have not arrived for years.
The minister responded that substantial investment has gone into bus services and that Bus Connects has been slower due to extensive consultation with residents who raised legitimate issues. The minister denied privatisation, referred to a substantial Bus Airden contribution and expansion, and said work is underway on an alternative route into Cove and on the rail connection to Yala Greenway. The minister also cited the Corpton-Middleton railway expansion as reversing a long-term trend and stressed the need to resolve road access to Cove and Great Island to unlock economic benefits for the Docklands, the port and Marina Point.
Overcrowding and commuter impact
Paul Murphy told the Dáil that the 15 is the busiest route in Dublin and the 15B is grossly overcrowded. He recounted constituents’ experiences that buses fill up after the first few stops and leave people waiting, including one person who now leaves home at 7.15 to get to work for nine, despite living five miles from the GPO, and a student afraid of missing exams.
Questions on privatisation and accountability
He asked who is accountable for privatising the buses and said he did not recall having a vote on that change, warning that continued disruption could cost people their jobs. The comments framed privatisation as a central concern for affected commuters.
Bus Connects delay and capacity concerns
Murphy criticised repeated assurances that Bus Connects would solve problems, noting the A-spine is now delayed until Autumn 2026 at the earliest and saying it will likely be over capacity as soon as it starts. He stressed frustration that promised solutions have not arrived for years.
Government response on investment and related projects
The minister responded that substantial investment has gone into bus services and that Bus Connects has been slower due to extensive consultation with residents who raised legitimate issues. The minister denied privatisation, referred to a substantial Bus Airden contribution and expansion, and said work is underway on an alternative route into Cove and on the rail connection to Yala Greenway. The minister also cited the Corpton-Middleton railway expansion as reversing a long-term trend and stressed the need to resolve road access to Cove and Great Island to unlock economic benefits for the Docklands, the port and Marina Point.
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Transcript
I want to ask about transport infrastructure, of which buses are obviously the easiest, quickest, cheapest to deploy, but every day pretty much I get emails about the state of the bus services in Ballycolon, Noclion and Rathfarnham. The 15 is the busiest route in Dublin, the 15B is also grossly overcrowded. What's happening is that buses routinely fill up in the morning after the first few stops and then leave everyone behind at the later stops. This is a daily occurrence. One constituent says I now leave home at 7.15 to get to work for nine. My home is exactly five miles from the GPO. Who is accountable for privatising the buses? I don't remember getting to vote on it, I'm going to lose my job if this goes on. Another student says something needs to be done quickly, I'm increasingly desperate and anxious that I will miss something like an exam or something far more important. For years we've been promised Bus Connects is the answer to it, but the A-spine is now delayed until Autumn 2026 at the earliest and will likely be over capacity as soon as the starts. What is the Government planning to do to fix the bus service? In terms of public transport conditions, a lot of investment has gone into the bus services. Bus Connects has been slower because there has been huge consultation with people and residents and communities who had issues with Bus Connects, let's be honest, and legitimate issues with Bus Connects. And we will continue to prioritise public services. It's not a privatised bus service. There's a substantial Bus Airden contribution to public buses and Bus Airden has expanded. And Airden has expanded as well. Deputy Quaid, there is work underway in respect of the alternative route into Cove. And the issue of the rail connection to Yala Greenway has been developed, but I get the issue. And we were, I think the Corpton-Middleton was the first railway expansion in its time, and reversed the trend of 50, 60 years, and it has been extremely effective. But we do need to continue to work on the economy within Yal and creating opportunities for people living in Yal. It is a very iconic, attractive area, and that's something we have to continue to work on. And we're very focused on the need to get alternative, you know, get that road situation into Cove and Great Island sorted. There's economic implications arising from that, as we know, in terms of releasing the Docklands, the port, and Marina Point, and so on like that. Thank you.