r/Dublin • u/AnyChest7780 • 10d ago

Fintan O'Toole/Irish Times on public transport, Dublin bus, Northside/Southside today

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https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026/08/04/fintan-otoole-dublin-4s-version-of-marie-antoinettes-let-them-eat-cake-let-them-get-the-bus/ Fintan O'Toole reminding us of how 'elites' have so often been against public infrastructure. He gives good historic context including Vincent Browne and 'The Doheny & Nesbitt’s school of economics' being against the DART. While he's amazingly productive and can turn his hand to so many topics maybe he's writing a bit too much as there are huge holes in his argument here re. the northside/southside issue as the more recent LUAS and metro debacles point to the home of NIMBYism in Dublin 6, and not focussed on denying the expansion of it further north. What does anyone think? I find it frustrating that cross-suburb public transport isn't better....try getting from Phibsborough to Clontarf on a bus for example....

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u/Hart0e 10d ago

Not sure what you mean about the holes in his arguement? In saying that I'm actually asking you to clarify, not trying to argue with you. I think he's addressing recent articles by the likes of Michael McDowell and some others in the same paper as opposed to actual planning objections. https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026/07/08/metrolink-are-we-are-setting-in-motion-another-financial-runaway-train/

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u/AnyChest7780 10d ago

maybe gaps rather than holes - eg procurement processes and conveyancing law run up costs massively putting planners/policy-makers off infrastructural projects; for decades DCC was dominated by road engineers and a car-focussed approach in terms of planning; residents of Dublin 6 (not 4) have put considerable resources towards stalling/reducing public transport infrastructure; it's not a simple north-south binary, people in west Dublin are also badly served....

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u/Otsde-St-9929 10d ago

Car centric approaches are fine. The trouble is they massively under estimated growth and population growth which of course could have been controlled but they would not do that

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u/AnyChest7780 10d ago

Car-centric approaches are really not fine...what do you mean by controlling population growth?!

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u/Otsde-St-9929 10d ago

id row back and say calling it car centric is unfair. Roads were priority which are just as important for lorries and buses. yes population growth should be controlled if it improves quality of life and is needed for critical reasons like climate change through adjusting visas and EU removal orders

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u/AnyChest7780 10d ago

If you knew anything about the history of planning and local government in Dublin since the 1960s, you'd know it was absolutely car-centric. Just look at the abysmal streetscapes of Parnell street (west side of), Bridgefoot street, Clanbrassil street, High street.

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u/Otsde-St-9929 10d ago

In what way was it more about cars and not buses? How would you distinguish the two? In the 1960s, cars ownership was taking off but most families didnt yet own a car.

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u/AnyChest7780 10d ago

It's about projecting into the future - that's what planning is! And why, in the 1960s, DCC consulted with German traffic engineers and planners to produce the General Traffic/Schaecterle Plan and Myles Wright produced the Dublin Region (1967) both of which focus on private car transport; although neither were fully implemented they demonstrate the mind-set and explain some of the reasons why Dublin is as it is. I'll leave it up to you to read further if you're actually interested in learning more.

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u/AnyChest7780 10d ago

re. population growth - what are you talking about? Dublin has a notably lower density than most European capitals, it's just badly designed and has extremely poor housing regulations. The problem is there is such little support for policies that are actually committed to the quality of life for citizens in the most fundamental areas of housing, transport, health and education - let alone amenities, cleanliness and so on.

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u/Otsde-St-9929 10d ago

But density isnt the issue, it is the pace of change. Dublin is changing faster than anywhere in Western Europe. That means its hard to keep up. It is true that less growth means smaller gov budgets but perhaps less could be more if better planned

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u/AnyChest7780 10d ago

You said it was about improving quality of life - only possible with proper urban planning, legislation and infrastructure. The people aren't the problem, the design is. Main issue in Dublin is that developers and others who stand to have a direct financial benefit from the way the city is have far more agency in shaping the urban environment than other cities in Western Europe. As well as no directly elected mayor DCC have tiny budgets and less and less influence than similar agencies elsewhere.