The Transport Minister has admitted it would be "absurd" for him to claim he has a short-term solution to traffic congestion on the M50.
As more people are back in work, traffic on the motorway has increased to rush-hour levels for eight hours every day.
Dublin Fianna Fáil TD John Lahart says the government needs to come up with solutions that drivers will feel the benefit of soon.
"All the government's projects are 2040 focused. There are no projects planned for now, for next year, for 2019."
He said "there are no projects to relieve the standstill that people are experiencing".
The Transport Minister said the government has "already implemented" a number of measures to ease congestion along the M50 and "will continue to do so".
However, Shane Ross rejected called to build a second M50, saying another outer ring road would be "too expensive" and that the government is instead looking at ways to encourage people to leave their cars at home.
Answering questions about M50 congestion in the Dail, he said that "it would be absurd for me to come in here today and say I have a short-term solution - because I don't".
However, he promised the government is intending to introduce "a lot more measures" alongside ones already brought in to ease traffic congestion.
