Kilcock bus and rail access
Deputy Ó Cearúil calls for better bus provision for the fast-growing town of Kilcock and wider commuter-belt links. The Taoiseach says he will raise the Bus Éireann 115 service and possible Dublin Bus expansion with the Minister and NTA.
Kilcock in County Kildare is the fastest-growing town in the county and one of the fastest-growing towns in the country. There was greatly welcome news that DART+ west will be extended to Kilcock, which is extremely welcome. However, the only bus service at the moment is the Bus Éireann 115 service. There have been many issues with it. Previously, Dublin Bus went to Maynooth. I am trying to get across the need for Dublin Bus to be extended to Kilcock. It is a wider issue for the commuter belt in Dublin, particularly those areas that are growing exponentially, and the need for additional bus capacity, particularly in light of people reducing the number of cars at home and how we are relying more on public transport. Dublin Bus has a bigger role to play here. I have met the NTA and Dublin Bus about this. I ask how the NTA and Dublin Bus are working together to deliver public transport for the commuter belt, Dublin in particular, and obviously Kildare and Meath.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy for raising this and for his strong advocacy for the fastest-growing town in Kildare and the country. Kildare is growing apace. I will talk to the Minister about the 115 bus service and the role for Dublin Bus more broadly with regard to extending its remit, and of course the NTA, which oversees the whole route development programme.