Proposed BusConnects merger slammed as 'mad plan' that 'simply cannot go ahead'
Plans to merge the 80 bus with the existing 130 route that runs from the city centre to Clontarf has been slammed as “absolute chaos in the making.”
Councillor Kevin Breen has stated the proposed BusConnects merger will plunge already struggling commuters into total havoc. He stressed that he finds it difficult to understand why anyone would come up with “this mad plan” that “simply cannot go ahead.”
The proposed merger has caused significant public anger, distress and protests from locals. Considering this, Cllr Breen put forward a motion at Monday’s North Central Area committee, calling for clarity on who approved the removal of core city centre and Marino estate links.
“The idea of merging the 130 with the 80 is absolute madness,” said Cllr Breen. “The 130 is already operating in crisis mode. Buses are chronically late, ghost buses vanish without a trace, and overcrowded buses pass by helpless passengers during peak hours. Adding the 80 to this mess is a recipe for total disaster.
“The 130 is a lifeline service for communities in Clontarf, Fairview, and surrounding areas. It is already operating beyond capacity at peak times. Extending this route and merging it with a service that has been a disaster since its very first day will inevitably lead to longer journey times, even more chaos, and total frustration for passengers. The 130 has its problems, yes, but it is far too important to be sacrificed in this reckless merger.”
Cllr Breen’s motion bemoaned the “essential direct link between the Marino and Ballybough areas and O’Connell Street” being removed. He said this creates “a significant barrier for elderly residents, people with disabilities, and daily commuters.”
“The proposed new Route 73 bypasses the Marino estate entirely, instead running up Griffith Avenue and down the full length of Philipsburgh Avenue, contrary to the 2024 Dublin Network Redesign Map which shows the 73 following the existing 123 route through Marino,” he stated.
He questioned the lack of “meaningful public consultation prior to the implementation of these specific changes” and stressed the effect this has had on the Ballybough and Marino areas. Cllr Breen strongly criticised the proposal to make the 130 terminate in Chapelizod.
“This would create a ridiculous cross-city bus route that is impossible to operate functionally and on time. No commuter will benefit from a service stretched across such an impractical route - it will simply collapse under its own weight.”
Cllr Breen also slammed the chronic under-provision of bus services in Clontarf. “Clontarf is already being short-changed by public transport. Residents face overcrowded buses, long waits, and constant unreliability. Instead of fixing these glaring problems, the NTA’s plan risks spreading misery even further,” he said.
He also highlighted issues with the 80 bus route which he described as “an unmitigated disaster from day one.” “Unreliable schedules, cancellations, long delays, and no accountability have left passengers furious. People were promised better service, but all they got was chaos and confusion,” he said.
Cllr Breen warned that merging two failing services would magnify the problems and punish communities across the network. “Rather than fixing broken services, this merger would export failure on a much larger scale. It’s not reform - it’s deterioration. It’s a policy designed on paper with zero regard for the people who rely on these buses every day,” he said.
Cllr Breen is calling on the National Transport Authority to "abandon this reckless plan immediately" and instead "focus on real solutions: additional buses, proper scheduling, and accountability for both routes."
“Commuters deserve reliable, functional, and properly resourced services — not rushed, half-baked mergers that make life worse for everyone. I will fight this proposal every step of the way,” he concluded.
When contacted for comment a spokesperson from the National Transport Authority stated:
"The new Dublin local bus network was developed and determined by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in a process and during a period from 2017 to 2020, including three rounds of public consultation. In that time over 72,000 submissions were received. NTA worked closely with stakeholders such as Dublin City Council , to take account of relevant wider plans.
"The network is now being introduced in stages, with the latest stage including new route 73 replacing route 123. In the City Centre the new route serves the Quays and Gardiner Street rather than Dame Street, College Green and O'Connell Street. This is consistent with the proposals for a pedestrian plaza at College Green and with reducing left-hand or right-hand turning movements by buses at the busy junctions at each end of O'Connell Bridge. We accept that some destinations are thereby further from route 73 stops, but others are now closer. We also acknowledge that these changes require some passengers to make their journey in a different way. In some instances, people who previously had to interchange will now have a direct service, while others may now have to interchange where previously they did not. For those who have to change, the process is made as straightforward as possible under the TFI-90 fare as there is no additional cost."
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