Traffic will be key issue in next election - Greens |
Speaking at the launch of the party’s ten-point plan for a National Transport Review, Mr Sargent said the current Government was wasting the taxpayers’ money by building unnecessary national motorways |
By Clodagh Mulvey Last updated: 07-11-01, 14:27 Breaking News Irish Times The Green Party has today said traffic management is now a key issue for negotiation should the party hold the balance of power in the next General Election. Party Leader Mr Trevor Sargent said the Green party would not participate in a government that would "penalise" future generations of motorists. Speaking at the launch of the party’s ten-point plan for a National Transport Review, Mr Sargent said the current Government was wasting the taxpayers’ money by building unnecessary national motorways and called on the Government to implement "value for money" transport solutions. The party’s plan includes recommendations for the amendment of the National Spatial Strategy to include a transport review prioritising public transport schemes, and the establishment of the promised Greater Dublin Planning and Transport Authority. Party Deputy Leader, Cllr Mary White, said the Government’s Roads Study of 1998 demonstrated that motorways with a capacity for 55,000 vehicles were being built in areas, such as the Dublin-Waterford route, with an estimated long-distance daily usage of 750 vehicles. Cllr White also said there had been no detailed study on the economic benefits the motorways would bring to rural areas and called for the restructuring of the National Roads Authority to end the "economic madness". Cllr Eamon Ryan called on the Government to provide more public transport in Dublin. He said the party was in favour of more Luas lines and increased expenditure on the planned Metro system. Although he conceded the measure would be expensive, Cllr Ryan said it would provide Dubliners with some hope for an end to the gridlock in the city. Copyright © Irish Times |