Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

The BusConnects plan is ploughing ahead across Dublin. We in People Before Profit truly welcome improved public transport. I always advocate for free, frequent public transport as a means to alleviate traffic problems and to help climate initiatives. The Minister for Transport disagrees. Having said that, there are serious problems with how BusConnects is being implemented, mostly because the community - I specifically want to talk about the community in Ballyfermot - has not been consulted about major changes in infrastructure to their area, the loss of 50 mature trees, the compulsory purchase of public spaces and gardens, the loss of a roundabout and, crucially, the loss of parking spaces at two rows of shops and the loss of access in and out of the Ballyfermot Road. We had a huge protest there last Saturday with about 600 people turning up. People thought that was small but I thought it was amazing for this day and age. It was not something divisive; it was positive. We need to get the NTA to engage with the community.

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