A new O bus route, which is due to circle around the outer edges of Dublin City Centre, no longer has a rollout date. One TD says theres a lack of funding, which was denied in the Dail, but the Department of Transport said that the priority for 2026 is stabilisation.In the Dil on Thursday, Green Party leader and Dublin TD Roderic OGorman questioned a junior Minister at the Department of Transport, Jerry Buttimer, about the delay in putting the route in place.Deputy OGorman said: One of the most difficult things to do in public transport in Dublin is get across the city rather than in and out of it. That is why those orbitalroutesare so important. The BusConnects Oroutewill connect communities across Dublin city centre, from InfirmaryRoadin the west and North Strand in East Wall to across the Liffey and around theSouth Circular Roadback to Heuston Station. Running in both directions, it will be the first true orbitalroute. It is the circuit that will link all the different spines of BusConnects together.When I asked the Minister and the NTA last February when it will roll out, I was told it would be in quarter 3 of 2025. There was no sign of it in quarter 3 of 2025. When I asked the Minister and the NTA about it in February 2025, they could not even give me a roll-out date, said Deputy OGorman.The Dublin TD said that the reply at the time stated that, Commencement of the new O-Routeis subject to confirmation of sufficient PSO funding to support its operation, and hence a precise commencement date cannot be provided at this time.'In the Dil , the Minister agreed with the importance of orbital routes but denied that it was a funding issue. Minister Buttimer said: While I cannot provide a date this morning, I can say that the sectoral plan of the national development plan has allocated significant funding to the NTA to progress BusConnectsroutesin Dublin, Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford.He added: The Minister, Deputy OBrien, the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, the Department and I share the Deputys commitment in this regard. I take the Deputys points on board. I do not have an exact date, but I will bring his remarks back and engage with the officials in the Department.After raising the issue last year, at the start of the year, and in the Dil two weeks ago and again yesterday, OGorman said there was still no reply on a date for the rollout.He said: Where is Dublins promised orbital O bus route? While we have the buses, it seems the Government is not providing the funding for the proposed O [route], which will run orbitally around the North and South Circular Roads. I couldnt get an answer from the Ministers today, either for a rollout date despite my best efforts.IMAGE: Bus Connects network map with the O route in blue running around the North and South Circular Roads.He added: We are seeing a continued pushback on the rollout of BusConnects, which is slowing down the expansion of the entire bus network. The Minister needs to fund the network (in full) to be expanded as quickly as possible.In a statement issued today, the Department of Transport said the priority for 2026 is stabilisation, ensuring current services operate reliably and sustainably, while advancing improvements already underway, and that there were many factors, including the availability of buses, drivers, and mechanics. It also said that the National Transport Authority is progressing with the works needed for the O route to run. A spokesperson from the Department of Transport said: The BusConnects Dublin network redesign will deliver highfrequency spines alongside new local, radial, and orbital routes. Orbital services are particularly important, enabling crosscity travel without needing to pass through the city centre.New bus services in Dublin are already being delivered as part of BusConnects supported by significant Department of Transport funding for infrastructure, fleet and services. Seven phases of the Dublin network redesign have been rolled out to date, most recently the F spine from Finglas to Tallaght in October 2025, the spokesperson said.On the O route, the Department spokesperson said: The National Transport Authority is progressing all necessary works for the O route, an inner orbital along the North and South Circular Roads. Part of this route is already served by the S2, Heuston to Irishtown, introduced in 2023. The Department is also funding progress on the core bus corridors programme, continuing its largest ever investment in the States bus system.As well as the rollout of new bus routes, the Department added that contracts have now been awarded for both the Liffey Valley to city centre and the Ballymun-Finglas to city centre infrastructure schemes, and it said that this was with a view to both entering heavy construction this year and that The Department will continue to work closely with the NTA on the roll-out of BusConnects in Dublin in the years ahead.The PSO programme delivers essential but commercially unviable public transport services, making value for money and effective prioritisation critical. The 2026 allocation focuses on maintaining and strengthening the existing network after several years of reliance on significant in year supplementary funding, the Department said.The spokesperson continued: Accordingly, the priority for 2026 is stabilisation, ensuring current services operate reliably and sustainably, while advancing improvements already underway. Service delivery is also influenced by fleet availability and workforce capacity, including drivers and mechanics.The Department said that the Government recognises the role of a reliable and equitable public transport network in reducing car dependency, and that a record a record 940 million was secured for PSO services in Budget 2026, which it called a significant 43% increase on Budget 2025, with the aim to place the programme on a more stable footing.The Department added: BusConnects will continue to transform urban bus services, enabling faster, more convenient, and sustainable travel, and both the Minister and his Department remain committed to its full implementation.