Ross shoots down NTA scheme to police bus lanes and fine motorists

The controversial €2bn plan aimed to use a carrot and stick approach to reduce the number of cars on the road.

The 'carrot' was to roll out an efficient and quick bus service in the hope motorists would migrate to it.

The 'stick' was that if motorists continued to drive they would face restrictions on the road, such as more bus lanes and more bus priority.

To enforce this, the people behind BusConnects hoped they would be given the permission to install cameras in key locations and fine anyone who did not obey the rules.

But Mr Ross has kicked that idea into touch and said it is the job of gardaí to police the roads.

Dublin North-West Social Democrats TD Róisín Shortall had asked Mr Ross if new legislation was being progressed which would give the National Transport Authority (NTA) power to use automatic number plate recognition to carry out enforcement.

But Mr Ross responded: "Such offences fall within the remit of the fixed charge system, which is administered by gardaí.

"There are no plans at present to confer such an enforcement role on the NTA."

Commenting on the news that the NTA's wish to enter the arena of traffic law enforcement has been thwarted, Ms Shortall said part of the principal of selling the idea of BusConnects to the public has to be an assurance that the bus lanes would be free of cars.

"The numbers in the traffic corps have reduced since the financial crash. You don't often see them policing bus lanes now. It is quite rare," she said.

Ms Shortall said An Garda Síochána needs to use its resources in fighting crime, and urged Mr Ross to allow the NTA to begin bus lane enforcement.

The Dublin Commuter Coalition group also expressed its strong disappointment at Mr Ross's decision.