NTA should have engaged more with residents on public transport plan – ROCK
Fine Gael Councillor Noel Rock has criticized the National Transport Authority for failing to engage with residents of Dublin’s northside, with regard to public transport plans for the region.
The Councillor revealed that over 95% of local residents have been unaware of the North Dublin Transport Study, which will decide between a number of options – including potentially putting a LUAS under Glasnevin Cemetery.
“The decisions taken as a consequence of this study could have serious repercussions for decades. I made my submission having given the issue a great deal of thought. However, recent polling carried out across the Santry and Glasnevin area has informed me that over 95% of people, when asked, were unaware of this consultation period, the North Dublin Transport Study and the six options that were set out,” Councillor Rock stated.
“This is deeply concerning and I believe the NTA should have done more to publicise this process. I am holding a public meeting to discuss the issue on January 29th. We should not allow local people to be disconnected from decisions which will have a big impact on them and their families. I have invited a number of stakeholders including the NTA, the RPA and Glasnevin Trust to this meeting”.
“I believe it is absolutely crucial that any decision undertaken must ensure the entire North West region of Dublin is taken into consideration. There is a huge potential for development to take place here, and it poses great opportunities for social mobility and connecting both Dublin 9 and Dublin 11 to the City Centre, Swords and the airport in a meaningful and all-inclusive way,” Councillor Rock continued
“Similarly, any decision including the North West of the city also gives commuters here a second mode of public transport to the City Centre, something the North West of Dublin City has been uniquely deprived of in recent years. While the South West has the LUAS red line, the South East area has the LUAS green line and the coastal regions have the DART, the North West of Dublin is only served by one mode of public transport and the conclusion of the Study has the great opportunity to remedy that situation”.
“I am strongly advocating four of the proposed options set out in the Study, all of which include the underserved North West region of the city. While each of them has potential drawbacks these are details that can be ironed out during the ongoing process. I believe that this public meeting will be an ideal forum to discuss the proposals and I look forward to engaging with my constituents on this matter. “
ENDS
• Note to Editors: Councillor Noel Rock’s public meeting on Public Transport will be held Comet, Santry at 7.30pm Thursday.
