The Pat Kenny Show A look back at the biggest transport stories of the year
Dec 24, 2025
Conor Faughnan, a transport commentator and host of the Driving Life podcast, dives deep into the year’s major transport stories. He discusses the resolution of the Dartmouth Square judicial review and the implications for future projects. The dialogue shifts to Dublin's congestion issues, comparing bus and metro capacities while critiquing BusConnects’ effectiveness. Conor also highlights the need for regional transport investments and addresses the shortcomings of public transport in managing record traffic on the M50.
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Legal Challenges Stall Big Projects
- Judicial reviews by small groups can halt major infrastructure and incentivise more legal challenges.
- Conor Faughnan warns this culture delays projects like Metro and hurts the whole country.
Metro Seen As Dublin's Essential Fix
- Metro is framed as essential long-term infrastructure for Dublin's future.
- Conor stresses repeated delays and rising costs undermine city transport needs.
Dublin's High Congestion Is Structural
- Dublin ranks highly on global congestion lists, reflecting systemic transport failures.
- Conor links this ranking directly to lack of high-capacity public transport like metro.