Parliamentary questions

189. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the rationale for increasing the tolls for cars on the M3 motorway on 1 January 2026, when tolls on other toll roads were not increased for cars; his views on whether this is unfair on M3 road users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1406/26]

190. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the N53 project in County Louth and the possible interim plans to address safety at the Crossmaglen turnoff on the road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2855/26]

191. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Transport the steps being taken to improve capacity, frequency and reliability on the Dublin–Galway rail line serving the three stations in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2849/26]

192. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if he will extend the fare reduction scheme for children under nine years-of-age to include commercial bus operators, given that the scheme currently applies only to public service operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1759/26]

193. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport to provide details of the electrified buses in operation by Dublin Bus; if he is satisfied that these are being used efficiently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2731/26]

194. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Transport when funding will be announced for the N11/M11 Junction 4 to Junction 14 improvement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68400/25]

195. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will ensure that the Dart + South West project, which was recently pushed back until 2030, will be reinstated with its original starting timeline as it is a desperately needed piece of infrastructure for Kildare north; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2862/26]

196. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to ensure sufficient funding will be made available in 2026 for the provision of new bus services, to address performance and capacity issues on existing services, and to support the enhancement of existing bus services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2851/26]

197. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update in relation to the Programme for Government commitment to reducing road deaths and creating safer roads for everyone, in view of the fact that in 2025, there was an 8% increase in road deaths compared to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2785/26]

198. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the rail prioritisation strategy; the impact of not proceeding with the proposed new line between Clongriffin and Drogheda, which would have facilitated express services to Drogheda, Dundalk, Newry and Belfast; the plans to deal with the lack of car parking at rail stations on these routes, particularly with the loss of …

199. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport for an update on implementation of enhanced bus services for routes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2868/26]

200. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the implementation of the new Galway Bus Network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2879/26]

201. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport when work will commence on a successor to the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan; and when the new plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2583/26]

202. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Transport the status of the proposed extension of the DART to Lucan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2367/26]

203. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the number of carriages allocated to the Gorey-Dublin commuter train, on a service-by-service basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1761/26]

204. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding any actions he is taking to further expand the availability of EV charging points; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1401/26]

205. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Transport whether Irish Rail will introduce additional peak-time services for Kildare commuters, given that timetable changes in 2024 and 2025 did not result in any new services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2780/26]

206. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport the measures being taken to ensure that public transport services and infrastructure are fully accessible for people with disabilities, including the availability of assistance, step-free access and accessible vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2669/26]

207. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that the cost of the Tivoli depot in Cork has now doubled due to delays. [2788/26]

208. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the purchase of new DART carriages; the benefits they will provide passengers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2781/26]

209. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport given the increase in road deaths in Ireland in 2025, which included a 40% increase of road deaths in Waterford in comparison to 2024, what he attributes this rise to; and his plans to reverse this worrying trend. [2866/26]

210. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the planned Coastguard station for Courtown Harbour. [70590/25]

211. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if a comparative cost analysis with major European metro systems, including projects such as Madrid Metro expansions, has been completed by or on behalf of National Transport Authority in relation to the MetroLink project; when this benchmarking will be published and made available to the Houses of the Oireachtas (details supplied); the w…

212. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport his plans to improve the reliability of bus routes in Dún Laoghaire in order to ensure that residents without car transport can attend work or other engagements consistently and on time (details supplied). [2871/26]

213. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the progress of the Great Island connectivity scheme R624 Cobh Road in east Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2847/26]