6th November 2003

PRESS RELEASE

GREENS CALL FOR QBC TO REPLACE DART DURING CHRISTMAS SHUTDOWN

The Green Party has called for plans for a Quality Bus Corridor (QBC) to be brought forward in a bid to avert traffic chaos in South Dublin over the Christmas sales period.

The Party stated that plans for a QBC adjacent to the DART line are already well advanced, and should be brought forward so as to avert a build-up of traffic when the sales start after Christmas.

"All we're looking for is a bit of joined-up thinking", stated Ciarán Cuffe the Green Party TD for Dún Laoghaire. "There doesn't seem to be enough liaison between Iarnród Éireann, Dublin Bus and the Local Authorities. We want to see a Quality Bus Corridor put in place along the Merrion Road, Rock Road, Dún Laoghaire and out to Shankill before the Christmas rush."

"The Green Party is also critical of the 'drip-feeding' of bad news from DART management. We ask that they clarify whether the next nine months of work are only phase 1 of the upgrading of the DART, and to state whether future disruptions are planned after these works are completed late next year. We were not given the full details of closures back in May when these works were announced, and I am concerned that we're still not getting the full story," concluded Deputy Cuffe.