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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Drogheda traffic congestion

Summary

Deputy O'Dowd raised severe traffic congestion in Drogheda, worsened by the closure of the Obelisk Bridge and long queues through the town. The Tánaiste said he would speak to the relevant Minister and agencies to see whether the issue could be resolved.

Drogheda's traffic is grinding to a halt every day. Indeed, the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, who lives locally will know that development north and south of the river is resulting in huge volumes of cars going into our town. It is being compounded by the closure of the Obelisk Bridge for essential repairs. It is a dangerous bridge which carried local traffic north and south of the Boyne without going into Drogheda. There can be queues of up to 100 cars waiting to get through a junction. People are very angry. Journey times for those going north and south in the town are increasing by around 45 minutes. Will the Tánaiste ask the Minister for the Environment, Climate Action and Communications, Deputy Ryan, to get Meath and Louth County Councils and Transport Infrastructure Ireland together to find a solution to this problem? Local people believe one solution must be to buy-out the toll, if possible. There is 11 years left to run on the contract. Can we find out what the figure is and, in the interim, find a solution? People are getting very angry and very distressed.

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Catherine Connolly An Leas-Cheann Comhairle Independent

We are over time.

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This affects school children, business people and anyone travelling north and south. It is really bad.

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I am not aware of the specifics of it, although the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, rapidly briefed me on it.

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He will fill the Tánaiste in.

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I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, on this to see if the various agencies can get together to resolve this. Invariably, these issues are not straightforward to resolve, as might appear at first glance, but I will talk to the Minister.

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