Mr. John Twomey:

The simple answer to the question is that there is a procedure and a working relationship in place where all of the agencies come together - An Garda Síochána, the various transport groups, Bus Éireann, Bus Átha Cliath and the DART and rail - to provide that support and work together to ensure the free flow of traffic around the streets of Dublin. There has been a considerable increase in the volume of traffic in the past 12 months. It is that balance between the increased volume and the capacity of the road network to ensure the free movement of traffic that causes challenges on a daily basis. It proves how vital the likes of the M50 are to the road network around the city. Ongoing meetings with the National Transport Authority and all the various transport groups take place on a monthly basis to prepare for situations and events such as the one that happened today on the M50 and ongoing disputes. When one loses one arm of the network, such as trains, it moves people out onto the roads - an already congested network. This creates difficulties.

However, there is a lot of work bieng done and co-operation to try to minimise delays.