Opposition criticises rollout of Dublin traffic plan

Opposition parties have criticised the introduction of a new traffic system for Dublin that began today.

Fine Gael described the rollout of the system as "a disaster" - suggesting it should have been introduced at the start of the summer. Labour said Dublin City Council and the Department of Transport, were "unable to communicate with each other on their individual intentions".

The council’s new signposts and one-way systems were drawn up by the Transportation and Traffic Strategic Policy Committee without consulting the recently created department. Minister Seamus Brennan is also said to be worried over the new signposts, which do not follow State rules.

A meeting is now believed to have been set up between the Department and the Council.

"It is simply beyond belief that the Department of Transport should let it be known to the media that it was not aware that Dublin City Council intended to introduce major new traffic management changes from today," Labour's spokesperson on transport, Ms Joan Burton said.

"Most of these changes have been flagged for years and for the Department to signal it was not consulted is simply to admit that Minister Brennan has been unable to come to grips with the job since his appointment in June",

Fine Gael's spokesperson on transport, Mr Denis Naughten, said the system should have been introduced at the start of the summer and not one week before schools reopen.

"While I fully support any attempt to tackle Dublin's horrendous traffic problem, the introduction of the new traffic initiative in Dublin City was badly handled.

"It has been sprung on motorists, who have no time to get their heads around the new plan or devise alternative routes for their journeys.

"The new road signs are more of a hindrance than a help. They are certainly innovative and eye-catching but they are difficult to read, not helped by the absence of English language directions".

The plan includes major traffic management changes in the O'Connell Street, North King Street and Pearse Street areas.

Mr Pat Delaney, director of the Small Firms Association, said: "There seems to be a lot of difficulty for citizens of the city in understanding exactly what is going on and that is not a good starting point - particularly as schools are reopening and traffic gridlock will get worse".

But AA Roadwatch reported no major disruption as the plan came into operation for the first time this morning.