Gridlock faced by Laois commuters is not a 'headache' for Ministers weaving behind 'blue lights'

A Laois Government TDs has claimed his Ministerial colleagues would tackle gridlock on the M7 faced by commuter if they got a first-hand experience of what it is like to have to spend more than three hours every morning on the road.

However, speaking in the Dáil, Cllr Willie Aird claimed Ministers don't have to endure this 'headache' because they can weave through the jams guided by 'blue lights'. 

The Fine Gael TD spoke in the wake of car commuter experiences reported by the Leinster Express / Laois Live and other media travelling from Portlaosie and other parts of Laois to Dublin and other locations on the roads.

Dep Aird recounted to fellow TDs and a Minister for State the issues highlighted by voters Laois.

"Leaving Portlaoise at the moment, if you want to be in Dublin at 8 am, you now have to leave at 4.20 a.m. There is no quality of life attached to that sort of commitment that person has to make.

"That is the gridlock. I often wonder if Ministers used public transport and their ordinary car once a week - I think every Minister should have to use their ordinary car every Wednesday if they come up from the country - then they would see the gridlock. Then we should see changes very quickly.

"When you are able to motor in and out with the blue lights on, there is no headache for you," he said.

Dep Aird, who uses the train to get to Dublin, outlined what local people are telling him.

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"A young girl told me yesterday morning it took her three and a half hours from 4.50 am to get to work. She cannot get public transport to work. She has to bring her car. She would love to have public transport," he said.

He called for joined-up thinking to find solutions as there are more and more cars, lorries and vans on the roads every morning. He said people deserve better from public spending on roads and transport.

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"Those people commuting are entitled to some form of a standard of living, not to be up and on the road at 5 am, coming home at 9 pm, maybe 8 pm, having to look after children. It is not fair to them," he said.

The Laois TD made the case to Jerry Buttimer the Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and at the Department of Transport at the Select Committee on Transport debate on Wednesday, December 3.