Conor D McGuinness: Condemns Forced Return to Offices
Conor D McGuinness criticised government decisions that are forcing people back into long commutes and urged support for flexible, remote work. He said the government is responding to corporate pressure instead of listening to workers and families and argued remote work would reduce congestion, cut emissions and give people back hours each week.
Rural and local transport failures
In Waterford and across rural Ireland, he highlighted top-down decisions and chronic underinvestment. He pointed to altered local link routes without local input, a refusal by government to fund safety upgrades on the N25, the N24 and the N72, and the removal of inter-city services such as Grange and West Waterford alongside annual school transport chaos.
Remote work and congestion
He argued that supporting flexible and remote work would immediately reduce congestion, cut emissions and give people back hours of their lives every week. He framed the debate as a choice between policy designed for ordinary workers and families or for powerful corporate interests pushing a return to the old system.
Impact on families and commutes
He warned that in counties like Waterford thousands are being forced back into long commutes even though their work can be done remotely. He emphasised the personal toll on workers trying to balance lives and the added environmental and traffic costs.
Direct address to the minister
He singled out local concerns and addressed the minister directly, noting I know you're aware of that particular issue, Minister. The speech pressed the government to prioritise local voices, safety upgrades and transport services for rural communities rather than mandates to return to offices.
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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. 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 policy is being designed for. Ordinary workers trying to balance their lives or powerful interests pushing a return to the old system. 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, and I know you're aware of that particular issue, Minister. A dogged refusal by government to fund much-needed safety upgrades on the N25, the N24 and the N72. Inter-city bus types like Grange and West Waterford that have been removed, and 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.
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