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Dáil
‹ Questions on Promised Legislation

Luas Cross City commuter problems

Summary

Deputy Lahart criticised overcrowding, timetable failures and disruption on Luas Cross City and Dublin Bus, linking it to the Government's transport commitments. The Tánaiste said no legislation was promised, acknowledged teething and management problems, and said the operational company must address them.

On page 127 of the programme for Government it is stated the Government will fund additional capacity to meet existing and future commuter needs. I remind the House that the Taoiseach was very keen to tell everybody that he had been responsible for Luas cross city, but he has not been seen during the chaos that has arisen since. The problems include timetable failures, chronic and dangerous overcrowding, the impact on commerce and a significant impact on journey times for Luas and Dublin Bus passengers, pedestrians and cyclists. Some 10,000 Dublin Bus passengers are discommoded daily as a result of route changes and electronic failures which resulted in the withdrawal of longer trams. The solution has been to take seven trams from the red line which serves the south side of the city and my constituency and transfer them for use on the green line. Can the Tánaiste guarantee the people of Tallaght, Belgard, Fettercairn, Citywest and other place on the south side of the city that there is adequate capacity on the red line to meet commuter demands, particularly at peak times? Does he accept that replacing trams on the green line with trams from the red line is not an acceptable solution to the capacity problem on the green line?

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Pat the Cope Gallagher An Leas-Cheann Comhairle Fianna Fáil

Is this question about promised legislation?

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Simon Coveney The Tánaiste Fine Gael

No legislation has been promised. Clearly, there are some teething problems, but-----

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It concerns a commitment made in the programme for Government.

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Simon Coveney The Tánaiste Fine Gael

The programme for Government contains a commitment to invest heavily in commuter transport services and the Government is doing so. Clearly, there are management issues and teething problems------

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Teething problems.

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Simon Coveney The Tánaiste Fine Gael

------on Luas cross city which have caused many problems for consumers.

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Simon Coveney The Tánaiste Fine Gael

These issues must be dealt with, but they are largely management issues for the operational company concerned.

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