Questions

524. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the operational reasons passengers on Galway city bus services are generally required to exit through the front door rather than using middle doors where available; whether this policy has been reviewed by the National Transport Authority or Bus Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62919/26]

525. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport whether consideration is being given to installing additional Leap card validators on Galway city buses to improve boarding efficiency and reduce delays at bus stops; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62918/26]

526. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport whether the National Transport Authority has assessed the impact of front-door-only boarding on bus punctuality, dwell times and service reliability in Galway city; and if he will provide the findings of any such assessment. [62917/26]

527. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport whether the National Transport Authority maintains records on instances where passengers are refused boarding on public bus services due to the unavailability of wheelchair or pram spaces or the bus being at passanger capacity; whether such data has been collected for Galway city services for the last 12 months of city services, in tabular form; and if he wi…

528. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the interim measures are planned by the National Transport Authority to address capacity pressures on bus routes serving western Galway, including Knocknacarra and Route 412, 411, 410 during peak house, prior to the introduction of the new BusConnects Galway network and fleet from 2027 onwards and accounting for these routes soon going to tender are there pla…

529. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport whether the National Transport Authority intends to review the timetabling of Galway city bus services under the BusConnects Network Redesign and timetable to ensure that early morning services connect with the first rail departures from Ceannt Station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62929/26]

530. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport whether the National Transport Authority, in conjunction with Galway City Council, has examined the feasibility of extending planned 41 and 42 service under the Galway BusConnects Network redesign along the Western Distributor Road into Knocknacarra towards Cappagh Park in order to improve connectivity to employment centres in Ballybrit, Parkmore, Mervue and…

531. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport whether the National Transport Authority has plans to require bus operators to immediately publish service cancellations and significant delays through the TFI Live platform and on-street passenger information systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62926/26]

532. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport whether he is aware of reports that Galway bus passengers are encountering instances whereby real-time passenger information displays and the TFI Live system fail to accurately reflect delays or cancellations; whether the National Transport Authority intends to mandate the provision of verified live GPS tracking data from bus operators; and if he will make a …

533. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the accessibility specifications that will apply to the new bus fleet planned for Galway city services from 2027 onwards; whether the National Transport Authority will provide for multiple flexible-use spaces, including dedicated buggy/pram areas separate from wheelchair spaces as part of the procurement process; and if he will make a statement on the matter.…

534. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Transport his position on the NTA's announcement that there will be no new bus services delivered in Limerick in 2026 due to a funding shortfall; and if his Department will ensure that funding is allocated to the NTA for a bus service at a location(details supplied). [62993/26]

535. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the implementation of the Programme for Government commitment to establish a hub at Shannon Airport for the testing of new aviation technologies and the development of a National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Policy Roadmap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62971/26]

536. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the total expenditure by his Department and agencies on translation and interpretation services in each of the past five years. [62951/26]

537. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport whether the National Transport Authority intends to develop a QR code-based reporting system at bus stops and on public service vehicles to allow passengers to quickly report incidents including service cancellations, overcrowding, refusal of boarding due to capacity constraints, damaged bus shelters, accessibility issues, or inaccurate real-time passenger in…

538. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport whether the National Transport Authority has considered the installation of QR codes at bus stops throughout Galway city and county which, when scanned by passengers, would provide direct access to real-time bus location, service disruption, and timetable information relevant to that stop; whether such a measure has been assessed as a cost-effective means of …

539. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport for an update on his Department’s development of a grant based scheme for disabled drivers and disabled passengers; if such work is being prioritised; if there is a timeline available for the completion of the proposal; when it is likely a new scheme will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63025/26]

540. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport to consider an additional M50 exit to support the development of Dunsink landbank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63085/26]

541. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport whether the Transport Appraisal Framework and National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland require or permit reasonable combinations of measures to be considered during option development. [63094/26]

542. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the body responsible for ensuring compliance with the Transport Appraisal Framework before the Department's first formal decision gate; and the mechanism exists to examine concerns about the evidence used to eliminate reasonable options before the option set is narrowed further. [63093/26]

543. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport whether there is a mandatory pass/fail criterion regarding AADT or the traffic-reduction benchmark under the Transport Appraisal Framework; and whether an option may appropriately be eliminated for failing to achieve it on a standalone basis. [63092/26]

544. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the five most requested languages for translation and interpretation services in his Department in each of the past five years. [62978/26]

545. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding any review ongoing of legislation related to the allowance for members of An Garda Síochána to engage in the high speed pursuit of vehicles driving the wrong way on any road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61959/26]

546. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding any review ongoing of legislation related to the allowance for members of An Garda Síochána to engage in the high speed pursuit of vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61958/26]

547. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport whether consideration has been given to the installation of one-way directional traffic control devices, commonly known as 'Tiger Teeth' at appropriate motorway access points to prevent vehicles entering a motorway in the wrong direction; and whether any assessment has been undertaken of the safety, legal and operational implications of their use on the national ro…

548. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Transport if he will review the conditions for disabled parking permits; and the criteria used to assess these applications (details supplied). [63177/26]