Dubliners can’t be an afterthought in city’s congestion plan – Ó Muirí

The congestion action plan being developed by the Department of Transport must deliver real improvements for those who live in the city, not just those travelling into the city, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí said: “Dublin commuters are being let down. I hear from constituents week in, week out about the same frustrations; buses not showing, buses stuck in traffic, DARTs cancelled or delayed and journeys taking far longer than they should. Many are losing hours each week to avoidable delays.

“Traffic congestion is impacting quality of life across the city and is driving up emissions on our roads. This is not sustainable.

“I understand that Minister O’Brien is working with stakeholders across local and national government to find solutions, and it’s imperative that the plan that emerges delivers tangible improvements to the reliability and efficiency of our transport system for everyone who relies on it.

“We need to deliver for the people who both live and work in Dublin. Dubliners should not become an afterthought in efforts to improve access to it.

“Poor planning over recent bank holiday weekends, along with unreliable services on certain routes is eroding confidence in public transport among commuters.

“One measure I have consistently advocated for is the full implementation of the National Safety Camera Strategy. The use of cameras on bus lanes would deter illegal parking and driving, which regularly blocks lanes, delays services and undermines confidence in public transport.

“The new congestion plan must prioritise enforcement measures like this to ensure bus lanes remain clear and public transport can operate as intended.

“With commuters already under pressure from rising costs and long travel times, we need to do everything we can to improve the daily experience of Dubliners relying on public transport,” concluded Deputy Ó Muirí.