Flexible Work and Commuter Delays: Motion [Private Members]
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-21
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Conor D. McGuinness (SF), Waterford

There is massive demand for flexible hours and remote work because people know it works. It saves time, reduces stress and allows people to manage work alongside family, caring and community responsibilities. Yet, every morning, workers are still forced into traffic and onto overcrowded buses and trains, travelling at the same hour to the same place, even when the job does not require it. That lost time is taken directly from people's lives. In counties like Waterford, thousands of people are being forced back into long commutes, even though their work can be done remotely. This is a political choice, in many cases. The Government is responding to corporate pressure instead of listening to workers and families. Supporting flexible and remote work would immediately reduce congestion, cut emissions and give people back hours of their lives every week. The question is: who is policy designed for? Is it for ordinary workers trying to balance their lives or powerful interests pushing a return to the old system?
The CSO shows average commute times rising, with many people travelling an hour or more each way. The National Transport Authority has confirmed that remote working reduces peak demand, lowers costs for commuters and reduces carbon emissions. Despite this evidence, workers face refusals, withdrawn arrangements and constant pressure to return to offices. Across rural Ireland, people are paying the price for top-down decisions and chronic underinvestment. In Waterford, we have seen Local Link routes altered without local input. The Minister of State is aware of that particular issue. There has been a dogged refusal by Government to fund much-needed safety upgrades on the N25, N24 and the N72. Intercity bus stops such as Grange in west Waterford have been removed. Every year, the school transport system is in chaos.
At the same time, people are told to get back to offices they do not need to be in. Flexible work will not solve congestion on its own but it is an immediate and practical step. Now is the time for a serious programme that protects worker flexibility, reduces commute times, invests properly in transport and delivers a modern, low-emission Ireland.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-21/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-31T01:00:51+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-21