Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I am sure Ms Graham will remember that earlier this year several Deputies came to the committee to discuss proposals for the preferred route for metro north, at which stage many of us expressed very strong views in regard to the Na Fianna proposal on the basis that as local representatives of local residents we knew the proposal was flawed and would not work. We are now in a similar situation in regard to the proposal for the Swords corridor and its impact on the Swords Road between Shantalla bridge and Omni Park shopping centre. Those of us who live in or represent those living in the area know this will not work. There is a unanimous view among all residents' associations in the area that the proposals will not work because the impact on the movement of traffic will be so great that there will be only losers. There are no winners in what is being proposed for people living in the greater Whitehall, Santry and Beaumont areas.

The impacts would be enormous. There are impacts on business in terms of cars exiting Omni Park shopping centre being able to turn only left. It is currently chaotic there at weekends. There are long tailbacks to exit the shopping centre where there are currently the options to turn left or right or to go straight on. If there is no option but to turn left, it will cause chaos in the area. The Swords Road is mentioned every day on "AA Roadwatch". There is no doubt about that. I listen out for it every morning on "Morning Ireland". It features every morning because of the difficulties in access there. If the NTA is proposing to divert a significant amount of other traffic down that road to try to access the Santry bypass it will add enormously to current traffic chaos in the area.

There is a grave concern among residents living in the Shanrath, Shanvarna and Lorcan areas which would undoubtedly be used as rat runs. Many people trying to avoid the traffic jams on the Santry bypass would undoubtedly drive down the Swords Road and take a left turn into Lorcan to use it as a rat run to Shantalla bridge. There is no way of stopping that other than completely banning traffic within that estate, which is not possible. In regard to residents of Santry west, those who currently drive down Shanowen Road and take a right turn into town would not be able to do so under these plans. All of those motorists would be forced back west onto Collins Avenue, which is currently chaotic because of the growth of DCU. Traffic is currently almost at a standstill. If these proposals are proceeded with, it will cause further chaos. That will not work.

There are several small businesses along the relevant stretch of the Swords Road. The NTA is proposing not only to restrict the traffic passing those businesses but also to take away almost all of the on-street parking. That would kill those businesses.

We must revisit this proposal. We cannot proceed with it as currently envisaged. A very short stretch of the overall corridor is causing the difficulties locally and that must be revisited. There are alternatives which could be considered. Creating a one-way system on that short stretch of the Swords Road will bung up the rest of the greater Whitehall, Santry and Beaumont area. That decision must be revisited.

Residents are concerned and they do not wish to engage in a talking shop. They want to know that if they study the figures, get involved in the process and attend the community forum they can have an impact on the decision. That does not mean tinkering with the current proposals but, rather, that the NTA is prepared to consider a radical change from what is currently on the cards.

People find it very difficult to understand how the officials have come up with these proposals when they know the impact they are likely to have. Local people know these proposals will probably cause absolute chaos and make people prisoners in their own homes. That is why questions have been asked about the underlying studies that have been done on the current base traffic figures. Has the NTA modelled the impact of a one-way system on that stretch of the Swords Road? Can we have access to those figures? If a solution can be found that involves the removal of the current proposal, I think it will be possible to reach agreement on this corridor. As things stand, it is just not a runner.