Dublin has become a city dominated by cars, but who can provide a solution?
Plans to improve the Dublin traffic problem have been launched and seemingly ignored for decades. This has resulted in congested streets and traffic jams at rush hour reporter John Ross describes a city owned by cars.
Michael McEntee the Deputy City & County Engineer for Dublin believes planning for the long term is required and not just a crash programme. Work of this scale can be slow and costly, and his department
Need to have five to six years’ preparation.
Joe Moore of PMPA (Private Motorists Protection Association) insurance company, says motorists in Dublin want to see an improvement now.
We’d like the corporation to get a move on.
The level of traffic congestion also puts pressure on an Garda Síochána. Garda Superintendent Michael O’Brien describes the current situation as difficult,
We have reached saturation point on most of our arterial routes.
Collaboration is required by several government departments if the traffic problem is to be fixed, says Ray O’Donoghue from the AA (Automobile Association),
This is a cabinet level problem.
Minister for Local Government, Robert Molloy agrees that an issue like this requires long-term planning.
He suggests a programme of traffic restrictions, combined with an increase in public transport services and reduced fares which will encourage commuters to leave their cars at home.
I’m prepared to try something radical as a solution.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 12 December 1970. The reporter is John Ross.
