Introduction and context
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Chamber of Commerce welcomes the opportunity for businesses and community in DLR to input into the Draft Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042.
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Chamber of Commerce, celebrating 73 years in 2022, is the largest business network in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown and is the voice of business in the county, offering an environment where business can grow and develop in a dynamic supportive and nurturing community and aims to be the most dynamic, supportive and trustworthy advocate of business on the island of Ireland.
The mission of the Chamber is to promote Dún Laoghaire Rathdown as the premier location for business in Ireland, by influencing key external stakeholders in sharing and implementing this vision. We provide a platform for business to grow and develop by representing and supporting business interests and responding to business needs through submissions to Government (local and national) on issues affecting business; through the provision of events for members to promote their business with the aim of growing and enhancing the economic and social prosperity of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown and Ireland. A good and sustainable transport service – encompassing public and private transport, is key to our vision, as well as yours.
With members in every geographic area and economic sector in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown we are well positioned to understand the concerns of business owners and represent their views. The Chamber is the umbrella body for business interests in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown, representing in excess of 400 businesses of varying sizes from all sectors of industry in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown including key corporate members who are the largest contributors to DLR rate income.
The Chamber is a network that directly serves not only its member businesses but the wider business community. The Chamber represents its members’ interests, encouraging business growth, employment and promoting the development of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown as the premier place to do business in Ireland, as well as an attractive tourist destination. Notwithstanding the recent positive growth in the economy, we recognise the fiscal and resource constraints that both the public and private sectors are operating under.
In relation to The Dublin & Eastern REC’s (draft) submission to the NTA’s public consultation on the Draft Greater Dublin Area
Transport Strategy (2022 – 2042).
The Chamber representing Dún Laoghaire Rathdown business community has studied the Transport Strategy (2022 – 2040) document with great interest.
We welcome the forward planning within this document, and its vision.
There is nothing negative in our thinking and we have great hopes for the future of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown county and for the greater Dublin area.
However we must state that making historical comparisons with transport systems and usage which includes and compares such public transport systems including the LUAS and Dart with UK and EU public transportation systems is difficult for the public transport facilities differ widely.
We further recommend that Dún Laoghaire Rathdown itself, and Tourism must be included as part of this forward planning and thinking.
Our comments in relation to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown relate to the following key points:
1/ The inclusion of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown within this strategy
2/ Bus Connects to include both Coastal and Rural Area routes – taking both local traffic and tourism under consideration
3/ Tourism itself and links to both our Rural and Coastal Areas particularly taking Cruise Tourism into consideration as well as a Ports Strategy
4/ Ebiking/Escooters
2. BusConnects Core Bus Corridors – Dublin Area
1. Clongriffin to City Centre
2. Swords to City Centre
3. Ballymun/Finglas to City Centre
4. Blanchardstown to City Centre
5. Lucan to City to Centre
6. Liffey Valley to City Centre
7. Tallaght/Clondalkin to City Centre
8. Kimmage to City Centre
9. Templeogue/Rathfarnham to City Centre
10. Bray to City Centre
11. Belfield/Blackrock to City Centre
12. Ringsend to City Centre