Madam, - I would like to add my voice to the many letters regarding the traffic problem in the Dundrum/Sandyford areas of Co Dublin.
Before the last general election Séamus Brennan issued one of his many election leaflets, stating: "Séamus Brennan has worked directly with more than 500 projects in the constituency since 1997". These included traffic items such as Ballinteer Road,/Wyckham bypass, Luas and Dundrum Main Street bypass.
I am sure that the residents of Dundrum and Sandyford would not object if the Minister would set aside the other 499 projects and devote more of his time sorting out just the other item, i.e. the utter traffic chaos on his own doorstep which is now ranked as the worst in the country. The traffic filter lights around Dundrum and Churchtown work about once a week. The traffic from Dundrum village to Ballinteer is bumper-to-bumper nearly all day long while a trickle of cars can be seen on the Dundrum bypass which costs the taxpayer €44.4 million or €1,269 an inch, claimed to be the costliest stretch of road in Ireland.
Finally, the Minister would be wise to abandon his plans for CIÉ and in particular Dublin and Irish Bus. No fewer than four ministers failed to solve the problems in the three-year period 1981-83. Mr Brennan himself proved a disastrous failure in 1990 and he is now crowing again about splitting CIÉ up. No doubt he will claim credit for the Luas project when it comes on stream (15 years later) in June at a cost of €775 million to the taxpayer for the mere 25 kilometres - over double the cost of sending a spaceship the 490 kilometres into space. - Yours, etc.,
D. TAYLOR, Dundrum, Dublin 16.