299. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Transport the expected impacts of BusConnects on bus frequency, route coverage and journey times in Celbridge, Leixlip and Maynooth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60100/26]

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services, in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.

As the Deputy may be aware, BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in the bus system, providing better bus services across cities and commuter towns. The programme covers the construction of new bus corridors, new network services, bus electrification and the development of enhanced ticketing, in an integrated manner to help maximise the benefits to public transport users.

The Network Redesign as part of Bus Connects was introduced to improve the existing bus network by providing high frequency spines and new local, orbital, and radial routes. Orbital routes are an important part of the new design as they offer an efficient way for passengers to travel without needing to pass through the city centre. The launch of W6 Orbital bus route in November 2024 merged the existing W61 and W62 routes, offering improved public transport links to key areas including Maynooth, Celbridge, improving connectivity, frequency, and access to Dublin city centre and regional transport networks.

My Department continues to engage with the NTA regarding their 2026 service plan, ensuring that planning and strategic decisions are informed by both operational and resource considerations. These decisions are also made following operational and performance analysis of existing services, including customer feedback. To illustrate this, the most recent BusConnects progress report, published in December 2025 and covering Phases 5a & 5b and Phase 6a, shows that 8 out of 10 users are satisfied with the service, and 45% believe the bus service in their area has improved.

We remain fully committed to building on these positive changes and delivering a public transport system that is reliable, accessible, and affordable for everyone.

In light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's query to the NTA for direct reply to provide more details on the specific question. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.