Councillors queue to question Meath's transport providers in 'historic' meeting with NTA, Bus Eireann and Irish Rail chiefs

A long-awaited meeting between the country’s transport chiefs and Meath county councillors to delve into transport issues in the county finally took place on Monday this week over a four-hour session in which a wide variety of topics was covered.

The meeting took place at the council headquarters Buvinda House where the public representatives grilled the executives over issues raised by constituents who were regular travellers on the county’s transport network. Representing the National Transport Authority were its Chief Executive Anne Graham, Deputy CEO, Hugh Cregan, and Director of Public Transport Services, Tim Gaston; Bus Eireann was represented by its Chief Executive Stephen Kent, Chief Customer Officer, Allen Parker, and Senior Manager Eastern Operations, Adrian O’Loughlin; representing Irish Rail was Chief Executive, Jim Meade, Director of Railway Undertakings, Billy Gilpin and Director of Capital Investment Paul Hendrick.

Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Nick Killian described the meeting as a historic occasion because they had with them representatives of the three most important State companies in the country. Describing the councillors’ attitude to transport issues, he said there were days when they were happy but there were also days “when they were very unhappy”. They were the first port of call when unhappiness manifested itself, with buses not turning up, drivers not turning up, buses late.

People needed answers and while he believed in communications to sort problems out, the communications should be “good and mean something to people”.

Ms Graham gave an overview of the NTA’s regulatory role. The national transport strategy provided for the delivery of the Dart plus programme and further extensions of the Dart to Kilcock, Naas and Wicklow and the provision of a new line from the M3 Parkway to Navan, new rail stations and the new national control centre. Certain national road schemes were included for implementation, including bus priority where appropriate on the N2, M3 between Junction 1 and 4, the N7 for Naas. In terms of traffic management and travel options various measures had been set out.

On the Navan rail line, she said that the transport strategy had set out that the existing rail network will be extended by the addition of a new rail from M3 Parkway station just west of Dunboyne to Navan, serving Dunshaughlin and Kilmessan. While funding for its construction was not currently included in the national development plan 2021-2030, it was intended to advance the design and planning stage so as to have the project ready for construction.

She also referred to the N51 park and ride facility in North Navan which was recently completed. It provides for a new offline bus bay and two bus shelters along with 180 car parking spaces. The site is multi-functional and will serve people with destinations from Navan to Dublin, the whole lot costing €2 million. The Tara na Ri park and ride facility had also been provided, opening earlier this month. €650,000 had been provided by the NTA, she said.

The official said that NTA had been funding Meath Co Council for a number of projects The allocation up to 2019 was €2.6m. The allocation had now gone up to €16.1m “which is a significant uplift". The number of schemes in the 2023 programme was 37. Some of the significant projects were the Navan 2030 project (Kennedy Plaza works), Ashbourne R135 Frederick Street to Ballybin Road and the Johnstown to Trim cycling project.

On bus schemes, she said that peak travel had largely returned to pre-Covid levels whilst weekend travel had increased by 27 per cent and 21 per cent on Sundays. Bus Eireann was now 30 per cent above pre-Covid levels. Operators were increasingly reporting capacity issues but there was little scope to address these despite increased driver recruitment. Traffic congestion remained the main issue impacting punctuality. There was significant growth in Meath, Louth and Fingal. The NTA was working closely with Bru na Boinne authorities to improve access for Ukrainians living between Donore and the Battle of the Boyne site. A new service was being provided for the Kells, Moynalty, Kilmainhamwood, Nobber, Drumconrath and Ardee route.

Another route being worked on was Virginia, Oldcastle, Baile Ghib. The 189 service was due to go for re-procurement to operate on the Balbriggan, Stamullen, Swords corridor and the new Navan interchange was under construction.