The planned 15-minute cities will become “50-minute ghettos” within 20 years because of a lack of infrastructure, an Independent TD has warned.
Speaking in the Dáil this week, Dublin Mid-West TD Paul Gogarty said that residents in certain areas will eventually find themselves unable to “get out of the place” if they own a vehicle.
“The 15-minute cities will be 50-minute ghettos in 20 years’ time because people will not be able to get out of the place if they have a car and they might not be able to have a car because there is nowhere to park it,” he said.
“Three lads renting a house, say, and trying to get from A to B across the city cannot get on a train in the first place and have nowhere to park a vehicle. We need to rethink the whole thing and think a little more cleverly.”
Gogarty expressed serious concerns about the current state of public transport projects, describing the BusConnects program as a “shambles.”
“BusConnects is a shambles,” he said.
“I have said before that the NTA is not accountable to anybody.”
The Independent TD also criticized the government for asking people to move into new developments in South Dublin without guaranteeing they can get to work.
“The train service in terms of extra carriages is not being provided, but the Government is asking people to move into places where it cannot guarantee they can get to work,” he continued.
“That is why we need flexibility in terms of working hours. It is so people can bring their kids to school or try to find a crèche, if they are lucky enough to bring their kids to a crèche as well.”
He further argued that the “entire spatial strategy” of the country is currently “for the birds” and called for the creation of a properly designed new town in the midlands.
“The entire spatial strategy in this country is for the birds,” Gogarty said.
“We need a new town in the midlands that is designed properly. We need to redesign city living and build right up in Dublin city centre in order that people can walk around and go to the shops.”
The Dublin Mid-West TD claimed that in some estates in his constituency, 90% of those purchasing expensive homes are from abroad, while locals are being priced out.
“People who have grandparents who could help mind their kids are being priced out of the market,” he said.
“Meanwhile, software companies are saying they want to go to Dublin. There are rural areas that could do with kids in schools and with the added investment and the industrial policy has not been firm enough to say that if people want to set up their software company, they can set it up with the broadband hubs in rural areas.”
Gogarty concluded by noting that infrastructure in areas like Adamstown and Clonburris is getting worse despite active travel initiatives.
“In Adamstown, Clonburris and other areas like them, residents are now being given restricted parking spaces,” he said.
“They are told there are 0.75 spaces per unit because this is an area with active travel initiatives, a public transport hub, etc., except it is not.”
The 15-minute city concept is an urban planning model where daily necessities and services, such as work, shopping, education, and healthcare, can be reached within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from any point in the city.
The model aims to reduce car dependency and promote sustainable living, though it has faced criticism from some who argue it lacks the necessary infrastructure to be practical.