Commuter rail disruption
Deputy O'Rourke raises delays and overcrowding on northern commuter services and concerns about bus changes. Minister of State Lawless says he is aware of the issues, links them to the Enterprise line change, and is engaging with Irish Rail.
There is chaos on commuter rail services since the changes at the end of August. I have constituents contacting me who use Laytown station, and Gormanston and Drogheda. The changes at the end of August have led to widespread delays, overcrowding on platforms and overcrowded trains. It is a well raised issue. There is concern in our county as well that there are changes coming for the bus services. There has not been good engagement in relation to that. We look at the Tánaiste's own county and city in terms of the challenges there. Will the Tánaiste talk to the Minister for Transport to ensure that Irish Rail goes back either to the initial schedule or implements a schedule that works for commuters because the current system is completely unacceptable, and, similarly, in relation to the Bus Éireann changes?
Comment on this
I will take that for the Department of Transport. I am aware of those issues on the northern commuter line. The Kildare line is affected as well. A number of the greater Dublin area routes are affected. The core issue is the Enterprise line to Belfast which has gone from two-hourly to hourly. That is a service improvement but it has a knock-on effect. Signalling into Connolly needs to be improved as well. I am engaged with other representatives and am meeting Irish Rail on that issue next week. I met them in August as well. I am meeting them again next week. I am aware of the issue. I am working on it.