Dublin to ban vehicles from travelling ‘through’ the city centre

'Through' traffic created by private cars and commercial vehicles travelling through Dublin is to be curbed from August 2024 in recent plans announced by Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan.

Two thirds of cars on the city’s streets are travelling 'through' the city, due to convenience or shorter travel times, rather than 'to' a destination in the city centre, according to Dublin City Council. Fine Gael councillor, Paddy McCartan, described how “in effect what people are doing is using our city streets as a vast rat run to go through the city when they have definite other alternatives.”

In an effort to reduce traffic and create more space for public use, the Dublin City Centre Transport Plan aims to block 'through' traffic in the city by restricting access to parts of the city centre for motorists by August. This will include limiting use of parts of the north and south quays to public transport only, and by introducing a series of pedestrianised areas and one-way traffic systems. Existing routes and parking for access to businesses in the city centre will remain unaffected by the plans.

The measures have broad public support, with 80% of public feedback supporting the plan. They were characterised by Green councillor, Janet Horner, as a “big opportunity for the city to take a leap forward and get serious about the traffic that has ensnared the city.”

The plan to reduce motorist traffic coincides with the Irish government announcing further funding for local authorities to support the roll-out of walking and cycling infrastructure, amounting to €290 million in 2024. It is hoped that this additional investment, coupled with the ban on 'through' traffic, will help Dublin accelerate the transition to active modes of travel. Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, stated that the combined plans will help to deliver a “large increase in cycling and walking as a mainstream form of transport for our city.”