Timeline and cost for public consultation on Kimmage to City Centre Core Bus route unfair to residents – Seery Kearney

Commuters living in Dublin South Central who are impacted by the BusConnects initiative are not being afforded a fair opportunity to have their say, a Fine Gael Senator said.

Senator Mary Seery Kearney said that the timescale that has been offered to commuters living along the Kimmage to City Centre core bus route have been offered an unfair timeline to make their observations known.

“The status update indicates that observations will open for public application between the 1^st of August and the 26^th of September,” Senator Seery Kearney explained. “This timescale also overlaps the Rathfarnham-Templeogue developments, whose observation period closes on the 15^th of August.  A very small residential area is disproportionately impacted by the changes planned by the cumulative effect of the two corridors.

“This timeline is extremely tight for families in particular who are on holidays and then busy preparing for the beginning of the new school term, many of whom rely on the cycling routes and bus service for those same school and work journeys. I feel they have been disadvantaged from the get-go in making their views known, by not being given sufficient time to consider their applications especially given that they are obliged to give consideration to two separate routes, that have a cumulative impact on their areas

“In tandem with this, these same residents wishing to raise their suggested amendments, observations and/or objections will have to do so twice under the two separate schemes, at a cost of €50 for each one – it is completely unreasonable that to raise a view in relation to such a fundamental change in the quality of life to their small area, the residents must pay €100!

“Nowhere else in the city does such a situation arise. It’s unfair to expect commuters availing of separate routes which operate within the same broad locality to pay to have their voices heard on the double. I would encourage An Bord Pleanála to allow observations and submissions for the Kimmage and Rathfarnham-Templeogue Developments to be made under a single €50 fee by permitting the combination of the two reference numbers and accepting the submissions in respect of both corridors.

“The BusConnects developments bring a substantial impact on commuters, residents, and the transportation industry, and we want to hear all parties’ views to ensure the best possible service is delivered. Greater attention and consideration must be given to the timescales commuters are being asked to work to”.