Transport Infrastructure Ireland
Dail Éireann — 2026-07-02
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James Lawless (FF), Kildare North

I used to commute by train and would try to get a bit of work done, but it depends on the nature of a person's journey and whether they suffer from travel sickness or whatever. This goes back to the core point I made at the start that while some students might find it convenient and preferable, it would be really unfair to suggest - and I would never do so - that students are doing it by choice in all cases. Some people just have no choice and would prefer to have accommodation close to campus. That is why we have a pilot scheme.
I have engaged with the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, in the context of our Departments working together on this matter. I am looking to drill down into the detail of smarter travel plans and of aligning matters. When we are meet representatives of colleges, they will inform us that there is a pattern of issues, including no bus stops outside lecture halls, students having to walk a mile down the road or whatever to get a bus or timetables not being aligned with lecture times. There are quick wins that we can identify by means of the pilot scheme. We can also look at ways to pull everything together in a way that works better for students and colleges. There may well be some relatively easy changes that we can make. If there are, we will certainly make them.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-07-02/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:52:14+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-02