Labour Party plan will help end motorway misery for rural commuters – Kildare TD

Kildare South and Labour Party TD Mark Wall has called on government to implement Labour's plan to end the ongoing motorway misery being experienced by many rural commuters travelling to Dublin.

Deputy Wall said: "Right across the country many rural commuters are spending their lives stuck in traffic along Ireland's major motorways like the M7, N7 and M50, being late for work and missing critical medical appointments like chemotherapy.

"With TII failing to take responsibility for the chaos on major roads, and government lacking any clear vision to provide leadership on the issue, the Labour Party have provided solutions to end this motorway misery.

"We need a new Operation Free Flow for the M7 and N7, similar to what is in place on the M50. This would have an emergency response unit ready to go to clear minor accidents quickly to protect commuters and keep traffic moving.

READ NEXT: Mixed reactions to new bus timetable for Kildare

"We need to see hourly train services for commuter counties like Kildare, Carlow and Kilkenny that go directly to Heuston Train Station. The first train from Athy is 6.41am and arrives at 7.42am. This is not a suitable service to get workers into work for 8am, and forces them into their cars due to poor public planning of public transport. Many of the current train services in rural commuter counties are already bursting at the seams as well, and hourly train service must also bring on stream additional carriages to meet demand.”

Deputy Wall said there is a need for greater investment in rural public transport options.

He called for dedicated bus lanes on the M7 and N7 to offer enhanced public transport services for commuter counties, and welcomed the fact that TII has confirmed they will be engaging with the NTA on this policy proposal.

Speaking on the right to request remote working, Deputy Wall said: “The current right to request remote working is a gutless policy that has no real meaning for workers. Government must bring forward legislation to allow employees to have a meaningful right to request flexible and remote working.

"The current approach has failed our people. Employers have all the power to refuse requests for flexibility, despite the fact that many people made life decisions on the basis that they could benefit from flexible work during Covid.”

No sustainable transport options for commuters

"Compounded by the dearth of homes in the capital, people continue to be pushed out of the city centre just to put a roof over their head. Yet, this Government has utterly failed to protect people or put in place sustainable options for commuters to get in and out of the capital.

“There’s a perfect storm happening now leading to long commuting times, high stress, delays, and poorer quality of life for people. It may sound like just a road, but it is causing enormous challenges for people, as displayed by RTÉ’s Prime Time last night.

“The Minister for Transport needs to work with his Government colleagues, as well as TII, and implement the Labour Party's plan to end the chaos on our motorways. Shivers will run down the spines of people at the thoughts of returning to the motorway misery in January. Let’s deal with this once and for all."