Speed checks needed on roads around Dublin mountains, says Dargan

It is only a matter of time before a serious accident occurs if speed checks are not introduced on the rural roads surrounding the Dublin mountains said Pierce Dargan, a local election candidate in Glencullen Sandyford for Fine Gael.

He has written directly to Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Superintendent Gordon Wolfe to inform them of the dangerous situation on a number of roads including the Enniskerry road and roads in Glencullen.

The letter reads “the last two local community policing meetings the issue of speeding on the Enniskerry Road and Glencullen roads has been consistently raised.”

“A number of locals, such as Tom Byrne, who I spoke to directly have asked if more speeding checks could be carried out. I personally believe that more speeding checks is extremely important as I think unfortunately without them it is only a matter of time before a serious accident occurs on this road or the rural roads around it.”

“I fully appreciate that I am making these requests at a time when resources are of course stretched,” he said.

“I will of course make the case to Minister McEntee for additional resources for this region, especially given the large increase in population. I know Minister Richmond has already spoken at length to her on this matter.”

Some 184 people were killed on Irish roads in 2023, according to the Road Safety Authority, marking the highest number of fatalities in almost a decade, when 192 people lost their lives on the road in 2014.

The figures for 2023 represent a 19% increase in road deaths compared to 2022.

Dargan has also called on more resources for Stepaside Garda Station given the increase in population in the area of Glencullen Sandyford and more Garda patrols given the increase in anti-social behaviour. Though he calls for these resources he understands this comes at a time when Garda resources are stretched.