Calls for emergency response unit for Kildare's M7 and N7 roads

Labour TD for Kildare South, Mark Wall has urged the government to set up an “emergency response unit” to tackle the congestion problem on Kildare's M7 and N7 roads.

Speaking during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil today (Thursday, November 20), Deputy Wall said it’s not just workers that are affected, outlining harrowing stories of people missing medical appointments like chemotherapy because of delays. 

Deputy Wall said: “Put simply, the chaos on our roads is a direct consequence of this Government of failures policies. People have been pushed out of our capital city, forced to live in the commuter belt. There is a lack of public transport options, incredibly there is not an hourly train service along the Waterford to Heuston line despite so many people commuting to Dublin along this route. 

“Meanwhile, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil gave employers an effective right to refuse requests to work remotely. The call back to the office and the workplace is a problem cited time and again by many commuters who have contacted me about the crazy traffic delays. 

“I’ve been calling for action on the M7 and N7 for months now. Thousands of people are now spending their lives stuck in daily traffic, stuck up to three hours trying to get to work. They are leaving their family homes at 6am just to barely make it to work in time for 9am. 

“It's not just workers that are affected. People are now missing critical medical appointments like chemotherapy because of these delays. 

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“In recent weeks, cancer patients are telling me that they are having to pull over to the side of the road because they are so unwell and can’t make their appointment. It’s absolutely outrageous that Government have not taken action. 

Speaking directly to the Tánaiste today, Deputy Wall urged him to put pressure on Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the Minister for Transport to urgently enact an emergency response unit for the M7 and other major motorways that are experiencing massive traffic delays - like what is in place on the M50.

Deputy Wall said that although this would not be a “silver bullet”, it would allow for better response to minor road traffic incidents and will help prevent traffic coming to a standstill at rush hour.

“The commuter chaos needs to be addressed. The Tánaiste said he acknowledges the real life impact the enormous increase in traffic is having, but that is absolutely useless to people without serious action”, he said.

“At the very least, people deserve to be able to commute at a reasonable time, people who are attending appointments should be able to plan accordingly, not be left to essentially sit in a carpark which is what the N7 and M7 have become.”