McGuinness questions Varadkar consideration of Castleknock and D15 commuters

Councillor David McGuinness, Dublin West Fianna Fáil by-election, has this evening “expressed his considerable surprise at the apparent disregard which Minister’s Varadkar and Brian Hayes have shown for the commuting public in Castleknock and other Dublin 15 suburbs.”

“The decision to close the Castleknock gate to the Phoenix Park again and undertake road works will cause significant traffic delays.”

“While everyone in the locality recognises the road through the Phoenix Park is substandard and in need of repair, it is quite unbelievable that a local TD, who just so happens to be the Minister for Transport, could disregard the significant impact that this is going to have on local commuters and businesses between now and Christmas.”

“The harsh reality is that while these works are necessary, it should have been avoided that this work takes place during the ‘busiest months’ of the year in terms of traffic. The undoubted traffic problems that this decision is going to cause could have been minimised if carried during the summer period.”

“The most surprising element of all of this is that Leo Varadkar identified these very issues relating to blocking traffic flow in the Park in September 2009 when he said:

‘I am very annoyed at the OPW’s decision to close Castleknock Gate for nine weeks.  The Minister made the decision without any consultation with local TDs or councillors.  October and November are busiest months for traffic in the years.  These works should have been carried out during the summer.  I am calling on the Minister to open White’s Gate during peak hours during the course of the works and for the Garda Traffic Corps to take an active role in the managing traffic in the area’. (http://www.leovaradkar.ie/?p=604)

The question I would now ask Minister Varadkar now is whether he was actually consulted on this decision. If so, why has he let it proceed at a time of year which he himself recognises as the busiest? If he was not consulted, why not, and will he be voicing his annoyance to his Fine Gael colleague Minister Brian Hayes on behalf of the people of Castleknock and Dublin 15?”