Problems with road infrastructure were described in the Dáil as "catastrophic" following a crash early yesterday morning at the Lucan, Co Dublin exit of the M50, which resulted in major traffic delays.
Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins (Dublin West) claimed that "an important new record" was set when it took a bus two hours and 25 minutes to cover a 12-mile distance to the city centre after the crash, in which a car overturned at about 6.20am. A number of people had to be cut from the vehicle.
The crash is the latest of a number of incidents which have caused major delays on the motorway, currently being upgraded in works that will be completed in 2010. It also emerged yesterday that the toll on the M50's West-Link plaza is to increase by 10 cent for cars.
Deputy Higgins told the Dáil that "any crash, big or small, around northwest Dublin creates instant gridlock for 20 miles".
Raising the issue with the Taoiseach on the Order of Business, he described the 145 minutes it took the 39A bus to go 12 miles from Ongar, Clonsilla to the city centre as an "important new record".
Mr Higgins, who asked when the Dublin Transport Authority Bill would be introduced, said that "I will not ask the Taoiseach whether he is embarrassed by the catastrophic infrastructural void, the day after the Budget".
He added that "massive resources were available for emergency action. When will emergency action be taken to save our people from a breakdown?"
