More limits on cars in Dublin city centre come into effect
The second phase of the Dublin City Transport plans has come into effect, changing the way private vehicles can travel around parts of the city centre.
However, the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) said the measures introduced as part of the plan are causing problems for its members and called for an exemption for those with accessible parking permits.
From this morning, the left turn from Westland Row to Pearse Street is now restricted to public transport and cyclists only.
Private vehicles can instead turn right onto a new two-way system between Pearse Street and Sandwith Street Lower.
Claire French, Senior Executive engineer with Dublin City Council's Transport Department said the measures will help prepare for future transport projects.
"This is to prioritise public transport in the area," she said.
"We've reduced the amount of cars in the core of the city centre by 6,000 a day."
"Westland Row is going to become more important as BusConnects rolls out.
"We also want to reassign some of the space on Pearse Street for walking and cycling and for greening and then we have other projects like DART Plus and Metro North, which are further down the line, but are going to introduce a lot more pedestrians into the Pearse Street, Tara Street area.
"So we want to prepare for that."
She said the Transport Plan has already reduced private car traffic and improved public transport times in the city centre
"We've reduced the amount of cars in the core of the city centre by 6,000 a day.
"We've increased the number of buses. Footfall figures are up.
"So we've met our initial objectives and we hope this is a continuation of this as we move through the plan."
IWA calls for exemption for accessible parking permit holders
However, the restriction on private vehicles is causing difficulties for the IWA's members, it said.
IWA National Advocacy Manager Joan Carthy has called for accessible parking permit holders to be exempt from the measures.
"The big problem is the parking spaces and how we actually manage to access them," she said.
"Before we had been told that spaces wouldn't be moved or removed and then after the launch that changed.
"What's happening is we're being pushed further and further away from being able to use Dublin city independently and public transport doesn't work for people with disabilities."
A consultation period is now underway for the next phase of the Dublin City Transport Plan which will see the pedestrianisation of Parliament Street.
When that measure comes into effect in late June it will be the third significant change to how private cars access the city centre in less than a year.
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RTÉ News
25-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Changes to how cars travel round Dublin city centre come into effect
The second phase of the Dublin City Transport plans has come into effect, changing the way private vehicles can travel around parts of the city centre. However, the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) said the measures introduced as part of the plan are causing problems for its members and called for an exemption for those with accessible parking permits. From this morning, the left turn from Westland Row to Pearse Street is now restricted to public transport and cyclists only. Private vehicles can instead turn right onto a new two-way system between Pearse Street and Sandwith Street Lower. Senior Executive engineer with Dublin City Council's Transport Department Claire French said the measures will help prepare for future transport projects. "This is to prioritise public transport in the area," she said. "We've reduced the amount of cars in the core of the city centre by 6,000 a day." "Westland Row is going to become more important as BusConnects rolls out. "We also want to reassign some of the space on Pearse Street for walking and cycling and for greening and then we have other projects like DART Plus and Metro North, which are further down the line, but are going to introduce a lot more pedestrians into the Pearse Street, Tara Street area. "So we want to prepare for that." She said the Transport Plan has already reduced private car traffic and improved public transport times in the city centre "We've reduced the amount of cars in the core of the city centre by 6,000 a day. "We've increased the number of buses. Footfall figures are up. "So we've met our initial objectives and we hope this is a continuation of this as we move through the plan." IWA calls for exemption for accessible parking permit holders However, the restriction on private vehicles is causing difficulties for the IWA's members, it said. IWA National Advocacy Manager Joan Carthy has called for accessible parking permit holders to be exempt from the measures. "The big problem is the parking spaces and how we actually manage to access them," she said. "Before we had been told that spaces wouldn't be moved or removed and then after the launch that changed. "What's happening is we're being pushed further and further away from being able to use Dublin city independently and public transport doesn't work for people with disabilities." A consultation period is now underway for the next phase of the Dublin City Transport Plan which will see the pedestrianisation of Parliament Street. When that measure comes into effect in late June it will be the third significant change to how private cars access the city centre in less than a year.
The Irish Sun
25-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Major change for thousands of drivers as Dublin street closes to motorists in ‘prioritise public transport' plan
A MAJOR change is set to come in for thousands of drivers as the second phase of the Dublin City Transport plan comes into effect today. The new move will see changes to how 2 Motorists will need to opt for a different route Credit: Dublin City Council In August of last year the This plan saw changes to private cars travelling on either side of O'Connell Bridge between 7am and 7pm. Cars can no longer travel directly west or east of the Liffey following the implementation. In the next step of the plan by Westland Row and Pearse Street junction from today. READ MORE IN MOTORS Traffic, not including buses, taxis and cyclists, will now be unable to turn left from Westland Row to Pearse Street. Pearse Street will remain a one way street for buses, taxis and cyclists turning on to the street. However, a new right turn will be added for private vehicles at the Westland Row to Pearse Street junction. Pearse Street from Westland Row to Sandwith Street will now be a two way street to facilitate the measures. Most read in Motors A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said the measures will allow for "better walking and cycling facilities". The spokesperson said: "The anticipated reduction in general traffic resulting from this measure along Pearse Street from Westland Row and onto Tara Street will allow for opportunities on these streets to be reimagined with better walking and cycling facilities alongside the high priority afforded to public transport in the future. I'm an Irish driving instructor and here is why your friends are failing the test "The hours of operation for these new restrictions will be 24 hours Monday to Sunday." The traffic changes to the busy routes around Dublin City are being made to reduce Much of the traffic using these routes prior to the changes were just commuting and not stopping to work or shop in the areas. Another phase of the plan yet to kick in will see the north side of Capel Street become a pedestrianised zone after 11am every day. Amid the changes today taxi ranks, disabled bays and loading bays will stay the same. 'PRIORITISE PUBLIC TRANSPORT' Senior Executive engineer with Dublin City Council's Transport Department Claire French has outlined the success of the changes so far. Speaking to "We've increased the number of buses. Footfall figures are up. "So we've met our initial objectives and we hope this is a continuation of this as we move through the plan." As the second phase kicks in Claire French told RTE: "This is to prioritise public transport in the area. Westland Row is going to become more important as BusConnects rolls out. "We also want to reassign some of the space on Pearse Street for walking and cycling and for greening and then we have other projects like DART Plus and Metro North, which are further down the line, but are going to introduce a lot more pedestrians into the Pearse Street, Tara Street area. "So we want to prepare for that." 2 Major changes will kick in today Credit: Alamy
RTÉ News
25-05-2025
- RTÉ News
More limits on cars in Dublin city centre come into effect
The second phase of the Dublin City Transport plans has come into effect, changing the way private vehicles can travel around parts of the city centre. However, the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) said the measures introduced as part of the plan are causing problems for its members and called for an exemption for those with accessible parking permits. From this morning, the left turn from Westland Row to Pearse Street is now restricted to public transport and cyclists only. Private vehicles can instead turn right onto a new two-way system between Pearse Street and Sandwith Street Lower. Claire French, Senior Executive engineer with Dublin City Council's Transport Department said the measures will help prepare for future transport projects. "This is to prioritise public transport in the area," she said. "We've reduced the amount of cars in the core of the city centre by 6,000 a day." "Westland Row is going to become more important as BusConnects rolls out. "We also want to reassign some of the space on Pearse Street for walking and cycling and for greening and then we have other projects like DART Plus and Metro North, which are further down the line, but are going to introduce a lot more pedestrians into the Pearse Street, Tara Street area. "So we want to prepare for that." She said the Transport Plan has already reduced private car traffic and improved public transport times in the city centre "We've reduced the amount of cars in the core of the city centre by 6,000 a day. "We've increased the number of buses. Footfall figures are up. "So we've met our initial objectives and we hope this is a continuation of this as we move through the plan." IWA calls for exemption for accessible parking permit holders However, the restriction on private vehicles is causing difficulties for the IWA's members, it said. IWA National Advocacy Manager Joan Carthy has called for accessible parking permit holders to be exempt from the measures. "The big problem is the parking spaces and how we actually manage to access them," she said. "Before we had been told that spaces wouldn't be moved or removed and then after the launch that changed. "What's happening is we're being pushed further and further away from being able to use Dublin city independently and public transport doesn't work for people with disabilities." A consultation period is now underway for the next phase of the Dublin City Transport Plan which will see the pedestrianisation of Parliament Street. When that measure comes into effect in late June it will be the third significant change to how private cars access the city centre in less than a year.
