2026-04-30

104. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Transport the public transport options to Dubin Airport for the people of Dublin Mid-West; if additional routes are being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31351/26]

It is an ordeal to get from Dublin Mid-West to the airport. What public transport options are available to Dublin Airport from Dublin Mid-West for the residents of Clondalkin, Lucan, Palmerstown, Citywest, Newcastle, Saggart, Brittas, Fettercairn and Rathcoole? Are additional routes being considered?

The NTA is critical in the context of the planning and provision of services and continues to keep public transport connectivity, including access to Dublin Airport, under ongoing and active review. As the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, mentioned in a previous response, there was a substantial increase, about 46%, in the public service obligation in the budget to enhance and improve our services. While there is no direct public transport from Dublin Mid-West to the airport, a range of convenient and flexible travel options are available. Many travel by rail into the city centre and out from there. Looking ahead, the NTA is continuing to invest in additional orbital bus services which will provide more options to reach Dublin Airport by public transport. For example, route W4 which currently operates between Tallaght and Blanchardstown will connect with the planned new route N8 at Blanchardstown which will serve Dublin Airport via the M50. A further welcome development is included in the Dublin Airport Authority's planning application currently under consideration to increase passenger numbers to 40 million per annum. As part of this proposal, the DAA has sought approval for a new ground transportation centre which will consolidate airport bus services in a single location and, where possible, segregate general but traffic from pedestrian movements. This would provide priority access to bus stop facilities and increase bus bay capacities, supporting the continued growth of public transport use to make journeys to the airport. In addition there is MetroLink, which will start construction by the end of next year. It is fully funded under the national development plan and will integrate directly with Iarnród Éireann services at Glasnevin, thereby significantly improving public transport access to Dublin Airport. Deputy Moynihan asked for an update on DART+ South West. We are committed to that and are doing it as a Government. It will be a critical enabler of improving public transport services in what is a major growth area. There has been significant housing development in the area and new families moving in. We have to ensure that the public transport offering is commensurate with population growth.

There was a private operator, the Airport Hopper, in Dublin Mid-West until February 2025. It provided an economical route to Dublin Airport for residents of Tallaght, Lucan and Clondalkin. The operator closed because the service was not financially sustainable. The Minister mentioned public service obligations. I understand when a privately run service stops, the State can take it over through the public service obligation. This essentially means that the route would remain in place, but would be operated publicly by the NTA. I received a response from the NTA that it is not considering a public service obligation. Instead, it will begin a new service between Blanchardstown and Clongriffin. I am delighted for my colleague Deputy Donnelly in Blanchardstown and Clongriffin, but that is no good for people in Clondalkin, Lucan and Tallaght. Can consideration be given to taking the Dublin Airport Hopper under the public service obligation in order that we can have at least one direct route to the airport?

I thank Deputy Ward for asking the question. As he knows, I asked a question about this matter a few weeks ago and have engaged directly with the Minister on it. The suggestion I put forward is that there be airport-bound routes going through Dublin Mid-West, like the Expressway service from the western part of the country. I have written to the NTA and hope to get the support of the Minister to allow pick-up and drop-off for residents in Lucan and Clondalkin on airport-bound routes outside of Dublin in the interim. I will work with the Minister and hope to secure a public service obligation for some sort of airport link. We can apply some interim solutions until then. I welcome the support of the Minister in working with the NTA to mandate operators to provide additional pick-up and drop-off points. It is uneconomic to drive from Lucan, Clondalkin or Palmerstown as I have said on the floor of the House and with the Minister privately. I encourage him to support encouraging people to use public transport in as direct way as possible. I mean no disrespect to the response of the NTA, but it described a circuitous route to the airport when people need to get onto the M50. I would welcome interim solutions.

Deputy Moynihan asked a question about this on a previous occasion. The cessation of the Airport Hopper was a disappointment. It was a direct route for people. On foot of the questions asked a few weeks ago and Deputy Ward's question today, I will ask the NTA to move forward and see if something can be done within the public service obligation. There was a substantial increase in public service obligation funding. We have also seen a substantial increase in routes and additions to routes. Last year, 365 million public service obligation transport journeys took place across the network, a record number. Journeys are growing by about 6% or 7% per year. People respond when they have the choice and opportunity to use public transport. One can see from the questions Deputies Ward and Moynihan have asked that there is a gap regarding which needs to be filled in the interim. I am aware of the issue and will engage with the NTA to see whether we can bring forward the service and provide interim services solutions in advance of that. I will keep the Deputies informed.

I welcome the fact that the Minister is going to have a conversation with the NTA regarding the consideration of interim solutions. If I were to travel from Neillstown, where I am from, to the airport today by public transport, I would have to take three buses. If I travelled via Adamstown I would need to take a train and bus, that is, if I was lucky to be able to get on a train. DART+ South West was mentioned. That needs to be built as soon as possible. Many people in my area, myself included, have no choice but to get taxis to the airport. I checked prices before coming into the House and discovered that the cost of getting to the airport from different parts of my constituency by taxi ranges from €50 to €90. It is often the case that the taxi fares people pay are more than what they pay for the flights they are taking out of the country. I urge the Minister to consider interim options. I take the point on the Citylink service from Galway to Dublin, which comes down the M4 and does not stop on the way. A stop would help some people along the way, especially in Lucan, Palmerstown and parts of Clondalkin.

That point has been well made by both Deputies. I will engage with the NTA and keep both Deputies fully informed. There could be an interim measure we can take. There is a longer term plan and continued investment in the public transport fleet, including DART+ South West, which everyone is supportive of and which we will bring forward. The Government has started work on that. I will keep Deputies Ward and Moynihan informed of progress.