‘WE UNDERSTAND WORRIES OVER SEIZING OF GARDENS’

THE National Transport Authority has said it ‘understands people’s concerns’ over its plans to seize gardens and parking spaces to make room for wider bus corridors. More detailed information on the plans will not be published until next week. NTA CEO Anne Graham, pictured left, said the broader plan was announced last month in an effort to inform rather than alarm the public. ‘Naturally we understand people’s concern but we are still working on it and will be publishing the details either in late September or October,’ she said. ‘We will be in touch with those residents in advance before we make any kind of publication.’

Residents who do lose part of their property under the new scheme will be compensated and the NTA will review the amount on a case-by-case basis. ‘What we would say is we budgeted for an average of about €25,000 per property,’ Ms Graham said.

Transport Minister Shane Ross said ‘nobody wants to see anyone lose their garden but it is essential in some cases’.