The Last Word with Matt Cooper Is There A Quick Fix For Ireland’s Congestion Problems?
Apr 7, 2026
Geraldine Herbert, motoring editor at the Irish and Sunday Independent, offers sharp analysis and practical fixes for Ireland's traffic chaos. She explores faster bus boarding, smarter signals and fewer redundant lights. She champions express trains, well-placed park-and-ride hubs, bike giveaways and consolidated roadworks to cut repeated disruptions.
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Prioritise Fast Bus Boarding
- Reduce bus boarding delays by prioritising quick boarding over fare enforcement to keep traffic flowing.
- Geraldine Herbert suggests tapping before boarding or accepting some fare evasion to make buses more attractive and faster.
Create Green Waves And Cut Unnecessary Lights
- Audit traffic lights and remove unnecessary ones while implementing coordinated "green wave" timings to reduce stop-start congestion.
- Herbert recommends prioritising buses at lights and reducing lights that encourage risky driver behaviour.
Adopt A One Dig Policy For Roadworks
- Implement a one-dig policy so utilities coordinate works and avoid repeated excavations at the same location.
- Herbert cites South Dublin County Council's scheme where utilities schedule works together to prevent repeated roadworks.