If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)

Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

[Article] Firms losing €2.5bn over gridlock crisis

Options

01-05-2007 5:41am

#1

Victor

Registered Users Posts: 78,249 ✭✭✭✭

Join Date: December 2000

Posts: 68614

http://home.eircom.net/content/unison/biznews/10307163?view=Eircomnet&cat=Business

Firms losing €2.5bn over gridlock crisis
From The Irish Independent
Monday, 30th April, 2007

TRAFFIC gridlock across the country has reached "crisis proportions" and is costing small businesses an estimated €2.5bn a year, a hard-hitting report reveals.

One in five companies said they were considering moving out of Dublin because of growing congestion and commute times in the capital have soared by 61pc in the last five years.

The report, by employers' body ISME, catalogues the effects of a "gridlock of exasperation", with increased transport costs, late deliveries, greater staff turnover and reduced productivity.

It warns that the impact of worsening traffic congestion is significantly undermining our ability to compete and is threatening the viability of many small businesses.

ISME chairman Daniel Hickey warned that if remedial action were not taken, the consequences would be "extremely serious not just for the business community but for society as a whole and the lifestyles we lead".

Congestion has deteriorated over the last 12 months, according to 72pc of firms surveyed, and more than one in seven companies (16pc) nationally have considered relocating because of the continuing gridlock.

In traffic-choked Dublin the figure is worse, with 21pc of companies saying they were considering moving elsewhere.

The main impact of congestion was on increased costs, which affected 68pc of companies. More than half (57pc) reported staff lateness, while half complained of late delivery to clients.

Average commute times by car for employers and their staff have also soared over the last five years, by 74pc nationally and 61pc in Dublin.

Owner-managers take an average 40 minutes to complete their 13-mile average commute to their place of work - a 17-minute increase on five years ago.

In Dublin, however, the average commute of 12 miles is taking approximately 48 minutes, up 19 minutes in the same period.

Fergus Black

0