Fine Gael's plan for beating gridlock in Dublin this Christmas was announced yesterday - and its key component is more buses to carry the crowds.
With a combination of bad weather and extra shopping trips into the city centre, "there is no doubt that it is going to be hell unless we do something," said Ms Olivia Mitchell TD, the party's spokeswoman on Dublin traffic, on the need for an "Operation Freeflow 1998".
The plan reflects a number of meetings the strategists have held with the Private Association of Motor Bus Owners (PAMBO), suggesting for example, that PAMBO operators be allowed to compete for business on key suburban routes with Dublin Bus. It also suggests that PAMBO be allowed to use the dedicated bus lanes reserved for Dublin Bus.
"I have no doubt," Ms Mitchell said, "that some people will see these suggestions as an attack on Dublin Bus but we must take bold action and I am afraid that Dublin Bus hasn't got the flexibility, the capacity or the frequency with their fleet to do so.
"The truth is that CIE has a fleet of some 20 Imps (small, short-journey buses) which has been locked up in a garage for over a year because agreement could not be worked out on their implementation. The Minister for Public Enterprise has said that 50 new buses are coming too, but they won't be delivered until next April. That won't help the situation this Christmas," she said.
The eight-point plan is as follows: 1. The return of Operation Freeflow and its extension to key commuter routes out into the suburbs and urban villages. Previously Operation Freeflow operated only in the city centre, while many routes into the city are choked with traffic.
2. PAMBO members to be allowed to compete with Dublin Bus in suburban areas for fare-paying passengers. The PAMBO fleet to supplement the existing Dublin Bus vehicles.
3. Private bus operators to be allowed to use bus lanes.
4. The Minister has proposed that park-and-ride stations be established in Whitehall and the RDS. These to be extended to a series of park-and-ride sites on the outskirts of the city, using schools or college car parks which would be idle for the Christmas break.
5. Imp buses to be deployed immediately on orbital routes, possibly connecting the park-and-ride sites.
6. The operational hours of Arrow Services on suburban rail to be extended to night-time.
7. The operational hours of the DART to be extended to cover night-time.
8. The operation of Nite Link buses to be extended to more routes, using the PAMBO fleet.
The Fine Gael front bench is expected to argue that its plan deserves at least to be tried, and if found to be successful, elements could be introduced on a permanent basis.