‘Ridiculous’ timing claim over Dún Laoghaire shuttle bus trial as Living Streets row grows
The Living Streets project in Dún Laoghaire has come under fire again, as councillors renewed calls for a shuttle bus to St Michael’s hospital following a trial run that found it was ‘not viable’.
At a May Area Committee meeting, People Before Profit councillor Melisa Halpin brought forward a motion seeking a progress report on the proposed shuttle bus for Dún Laoghaire town and its hinterland, in line with commitments under the Living Streets project.
The multi-million-euro scheme, formally adopted on March 12, 2024 after a meeting that ran past midnight, includes the installation of modal filters on Tivoli Road, Cross Avenue and Clarinda Park West.
It also involves the pedestrianisation of 220 metres of George’s Street Lower, from the junction with Patrick Street to St Michael’s Hospital, alongside improvements in landscaping, planting and seating intended to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment.
The council said the measures aim to reduce traffic and pollution while improving safety and allowing for expanded public realm uses such as outdoor dining.
Living Streets Dún Laoghaire – scheme overview map
In a report to councillors, senior executive engineer Paul Faughan said the council operated a 12-week shuttle bus trial from the Harbour between May and August 2024.
“This service was provided on a trial basis to assess the interest and demand for the service,” he said.
“Following the conclusion of the trial period it was concluded that it was not viable to continue to operate this service.”
Speaking at the meeting, Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Clark, one of seven councillors who voted against the Living Streets project, said the shuttle bus represented a “potential solution” for vulnerable people needing access to the hospital.
“While I still remain as actively against Living Streets as ever, if we have a situation where effectively that part of Dún Laoghaire is pedestrianised, it is absolutely vital that our vulnerable and elderly citizens can access the hospital as they can now, and as a result, there must be a shuttle bus service,” he said.
“It must be investigated properly. Investigating it while the traffic is still open is ridiculous. The reality is the shuttle bus is required when the council decides to close traffic on those roads, it’s needed in the future.
“Any pilot now is superfluous, but it is needed in the future. And as far as I’m concerned, access to the hospital remains paramount.”
Fine Gael councillor Loraine Hall said the trial shuttle had attracted criticism locally.
“That trial was provided for 12 weeks on a provisional basis, the trial was subject to an awful lot of criticism from local residents because the bus was virtually empty all the time,” she said.
“The council also came under a lot of criticism for spending money on this trial that wasn’t used by the local community.”
Cllr Mary Fayne (FG) said people did not know about the trial bus.
“There were blacked out windows. There wasn’t much of a timetable. You simply have to persevere with something as important as this bus, which a lot of us agreed would also serve the purpose of bringing people where there are no bus stops,” she added.
Cllr Jim Gildea (FG) said there was no need for the service at present.
“There’s no need for it at the moment. Everything works the way it is at the moment, and I would expect that to continue as the street is left open during working days,” he said.
Responding to councillors, Mr Faughan said the proposal would be revisited and that the National Transport Authority would be asked to consider funding.
He added that access to the hospital by car would still be maintained once the project is completed.
Meanwhile a public meeting on the project is due to take place on May 28 in the Graduate Pub.
Aontú representative Mairead Tóibín, who lives locally, said she had heard significant concerns locally about access for elderly residents.
“This is an extremely serious scenario and one which is causing huge concern in the area,” she said.