Kilkenny workers furious at worsening delays on commutes to and from Dublin

Commuters travelling from Kilkenny to Dublin and further afield have voiced growing frustration at what they describe as ‘ridiculous’ and increasingly unmanageable delays on some of the State’s busiest routes.

Workers who rely on the M9, M7, N7 and M50 say their daily journeys have become a constant source of stress, with collisions, breakdowns and poor driving standards that are turning already long commutes into exhausting ordeals.

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One Kilkenny-based commuter, who drives to Dunshaughlin in County Meath up to six days a week, said leaving home before dawn has become a necessity rather than a choice.

“If I don’t leave the house at 4.45 or 5am on a Monday morning, I won’t make work on time,” they said.

“There are constant collisions and breakdowns, and the standard of driving is shocking. People don’t know how to use the lanes properly.”

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They added that dangerous last-minute lane changes are now a daily occurrence, particularly around exits.

“You’ll see people swapping from lane to lane and then, when it’s their exit, they’ll swerve from the far lane straight across to the nearside at the last minute. I’ve had quite a few close calls because of this.”

What should be a journey of around an hour and a half can regularly stretch to two or even three hours, particularly in the evenings.

The M50, especially turning off towards the N7, was highlighted as a major pinch point.

“You could easily face three or four crashes on one journey to or from work,” the commuter said. “It makes going to work challenging and really difficult to keep your mindset right.”

Another issue adding to the frustration is the cost.

Some commuters report paying tolls up to three or four times a day, five days a week.

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Another commuter, who can be called to work at short notice, said the unpredictability of traffic has become a serious source of anxiety.

“I’m given one hour and 45 minutes to get there, and I have to take the M9, M7, N7 and M50,” they explained.

“In recent times it’s been very anxiety-inducing. It’s almost a lottery now, depending on the time I’m called, as to whether I’ll make it.”

They said traffic conditions have deteriorated significantly in recent years.

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“It wasn’t like this before. Traffic seems worse than ever, and then getting caught in it on the way home can really stress you out when you should be settling down. It’s ridiculous.”

Speaking recently in Dáil Éireann, Kildare TD Mark Wall said it’s not just workers that are affected, as he outlined harrowing stories of people missing medical appointments like chemotherapy because of delays.

“The commuter chaos needs to be addressed,” he added.

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