The perception of being the local politician who “fixed the road” is often referred to as a bread and butter vote winner.
Fianna Fáil has committed to introducing free public transport for those under 18 years of age at a cost of €27 million, and to raising public transport funding by €30 million a year. It would also revive the shelved Dart Underground project, which would link the largely coastal line to Heuston Station.
The party proposes building a new electric bus depot beside the M50 and introducing a rural bus network similar to one in operation in Kilkenny city with two routes operating every 30 minutes. It supports the BusConnects plan and prioritising buses on roads with an expanded quality bus corridor network and priority traffic light signalling for buses.
People Before Profit would “move to a policy of free public transport to get people out of cars,” a call echoed by Solidarity.Fine Gael wants at least €6 million a year from the carbon tax intake to be ring fenced and put towards cycling projects. The party says it would produce a “five year plan” to increase the number of people cycling to work on a daily basis from 57,000 up to 120,000.
The Greens have proposed allowing cyclists to take left turns at red traffic lights . It also wants to identify and redesign the 50 most dangerous junctions in the country to make them safer for cyclists. It would also fast track seven cycle routes in Dublin and extend and create greenways in Cork, Galway and Limerick.
Fianna Fáil has promised to green light several major road projects such as the M20 between Cork and Limerick and the A5 between Donegal and Derry. The party would also pilot a smartphone app allowing the public to alert local authorities of potholes that need to be fixed.