By Sean Murphy
OFFICIALS at Donegal County Council have been asked for urgent talks about ongoing traffic problems in the county’s largest town.
Companies such as Letterkenny Cabs have complained for years about congestion in Letterkenny – and has now warned that legal and safety concerns have reached crisis point.
Its managing director Shaun Gallagher spoke passionately at a meeting that was organised last weekend by local campaigner Mary T Sweeney.
Mary T Sweeney organised a traffic crisis meeting for local businesses.
Questions from the floor at the Traffic meeting on Saturday.Mr Gallagher afterwards appealed for the public’s help to hold “Donegal County Council to account”.
He said: “Your questions will form part of my legal case about the continued inadequacy of road infrastructure in the Letterkenny area and the impact it is having on the safety and wellbeing of my employees.
“The current road infrastructure, together with persistent congestion and delays, is creating working conditions that place unacceptable levels of stress on drivers.
“Daily traffic congestion, lengthy delays, and inadequate road capacity create constant pressure on drivers to meet customer expectations while operating safely.
“These conditions contribute to mental fatigue, increased stress, reduced concentration, and a greater risk of road traffic incidents.
“Despite repeated recognition of congestion problems in the area over many years, the pace of infrastructure delivery has not matched the needs of the growing population, businesses, and transport services that rely on the road network.
“I am now concerned that I may no longer be able to state with confidence that I can continue to provide a safe working environment for my employees, if these conditions persist.
“This is not a statement made lightly, but one based on my legal responsibilities as an employer and my obligation to protect the health, safety, and welfare of my staff.”
Heavy traffic on the Neil T Blaney Road in Letterkenny on Wednesday, August 5. Motorists were once again left frustrated as many of the town’s main routes were blocked for long periods yesterday amid traffic gridlock. Photo: Brian McDaid.
The development follows chaotic scenes last week on Wednesday, August 5, when congestion at several pressure points built up until those bottleneck situations merged into intense gridlock that paralysed central Letterkenny.
Mr Gallagher added: “I urge Donegal County Council and the relevant public authorities to treat this matter as an issue of public and workplace safety.
“I ask that urgent and to engage with affected businesses whose employees face these risks every day.
“I would welcome the opportunity to discuss these concerns further.”
In November 2022, Mr Gallagher posted a letter online to challenge councillors about Letterkenny’s traffic.
Less than a year later, he posted again and asked: “When do we get the official title of worst town in Ireland for traffic?
“If there a naming ceremony, we’d probably be late to it, from being stuck in traffic.”
Mary T Sweeney orgainsed a new Town Committee to tackle “traffic chaos” (L to R): Brian Crawford (Geraldine ógs); Sheila O’Donnell (Circular Dress Collaborative); Frank Sweeney (Woodpark Furniture); Roisin Kelly (EZ Living-Grove).
He was supported last weekend at Aontu part representative Mary T Sweeney’s crisis meeting by others like a local bus operator, a shop owner, and several other business owners and councillors.
Ms Sweeney revealed that a new Town Retailers’ Committee was formed to tackle the “traffic chaos”.
She told the Donegal News: “I emailed the council to ask that it makes officials available to explain the traffic issues. They are accountable.”