Concerns raised over council plans to operate shuttle bus during Dún Laoghaire Living Street works
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is looking at “viable” options to provide a free shuttle bus during the construction of the Dún Laoghaire Living Street project, but one councillor has argued that public transport should not be operated by the local authority.
At a recent area committee meeting, councillors were presented with a report outlining proposals for a “free, high-frequency” shuttle bus service linking Bloomfields, St. Michael’s Hospital, and the wider town hinterland.
The proposal forms part of a wider feasibility study which will examine international best practice and operational constraints.
However, Fine Gael councillor Jim Gildea raised concerns about the idea of the council directly operating a transport service.
“A bus to the hospital is absolutely in my mind crucial, and there is a very simple way to do this, and that is to allow buses to continue to use George’s Street, it’s simple,” he said.
“I am not at all in favour of the county council running their own bus service.”
“It’s absolutely lunacy for us to try many services that would be reliable, that would work, but there is a very simple solution, and that solution is to allow our Dublin Bus service to use the street, they can continue to service it as they’re servicing at the moment, and I know that might not be in line with what Living Streets is about.”
“I will say I am absolutely opposed to the council being involved in running a public transport system, but I am equally, absolutely adamant that there should be a bus to service the hospital,” he added.
The multi-million-euro scheme, which is currently in its final design stage, was formally adopted on March 12, 2024, after a late-night council meeting. It includes major redesign works under the Living Street plan.
Measures include modal filters on Tivoli Road, Cross Avenue and Clarinda Park West, as well as the pedestrianisation of 220 metres of George’s Street Lower between Patrick Street and St Michael’s Hospital.
The council says the project aims to reduce traffic and pollution, improve safety, and expand public realm uses such as outdoor dining and seating.
Senior Executive Engineer Paul Faughan said the proposed shuttle study would assess transport options for patients and visitors during the construction phase.
“The purpose of the study is to assess the viability of the shuttle service, together with other reasonable transport options for patients and visitors, access in St. Michael’s Hospital and Bloomfields,” he said.
“The study will review the findings from the shuttle bus service conducted in 2024 together with the background information related to the Living Street scheme.”
Living Streets Dún Laoghaire – scheme overview map
According to a report to councillors last month, a 12-week shuttle bus trial was previously operated from the Harbour between May and August 2024. It was later concluded the service was “not viable”.
At the June meeting, councillors were told the work will be delivered in two phases: an initial review and shortlisting of options, followed by a detailed assessment and final recommendation.
Fine Gael councillor Frank McNamara said: “I would think that there’s a very strong possibility that the ultimate report will say something along the lines that ‘this is not viable’, which, if that is the case, I do intend to respect that recommendation.”
“I do have very mixed feelings about us kind of mucking around and getting ourselves involved in running a kind of a last-ditch shuttle bus service for very little return.”
Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Clark said: “As far as I’m concerned, if a bus service is non-viable, then Living Streets is non-viable.”
Cllr Lorraine Hall (FG) suggested exploring smaller electric shuttle models used internationally.
“So I’d be grateful if you could consider the electro micro bus model that has been very successful in Ljubljana, Slovenia, as part of your assessment of options, because if we are to run this, it has to be viable, and it has to be sustainable, and there are very good models internationally that work very well,” she said.
Cllr Justin Moylan (FF) questioned the duration of the proposal, saying it should not be limited to the construction phase alone.
“It is about a shuttle bus for the entirety of time as Living Streets is there,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cllr JP Durkan (FG) suggested a working group to refine the project.
“Living Street has been a project that has exercised the minds of many around the county,” he said.
“I would welcome perhaps a working committee that would be drawn from local businesses, residents, and councillors to liaise with the engineers and architects to fine tune what has already been planned.”