TRANSPORT Minister Martin Cullen last night strongly stood over his comments that people who legally challenge state infrastructure projects after their approval are robbing money from their fellow taxpayers.

People who take court actions against state infrastructural projects are stealing from their fellow taxpayers, a Government minister claimed today.

The final stage of Dublin's M50 motorway is reportedly due to open to traffic at the end of this month after years of legal wrangling.

THE Government will spend a total of €1.4 billion on 26 major roads projects this year under the annual spending programme which will be announced by Transport Minister Martin Cullen this morning.

Infrastructural projects in this country are billions of euro over budget, and vast numbers are not coming in on time, writes Claire O’Sullivan.

Actor Stuart Townsend joined environmental campaigners today in a bid to stop the construction of a major motorway close to the historic seat of the High Kings of Ireland.

The deadline for presidential nominations will close today, with Mary McAleese almost certain to be returned for a second term unopposed.

Conservationists blocking the final section of Dublin’s M50 motorway have now taken their campaign to the Supreme Court.

The heritage protection campaigner Vincent Salafia has announced his intention to seek a nomination for the forthcoming presidential election on October 22.

THE High Court has ruled against the challenge brought by objectors to works on the M50 motorway on the site of Carrickmines Castle.

Archaeologists are due to resume dismantling the ruins of Carrickmines Castle this morning after a conservationist lost his High Court challenge to the works.

The High Court today rejected a bid to stop construction of Dublin’s M50 motorway over the ruins of Carrickmines Castle because it was unconstitutional and against EU directive.

The High Court heard calls today for a new Environmental Impact Statement to be carried out on the rooms of Carrickmines Castle.

Work on the Carrickmines section of Dublin’s M50 motorway will remain halted while a court decides if emergency legislation allowing it to go ahead is constitutional.

New archaeological sites have been discovered around the hill of Tara, on the proposed route of the M3 motorway in Co Meath.

Work on the controversial Carrickmines section of Dublin’s M50 motorway stopped today until a High Court hearing into its constitutionality begins next week.

The High Court could halt work tomorrow on the controversial section of Dublin’s M50 motorway pending an injunction hearing.

WORK finally resumed yesterday morning on the remaining section of Dublin’s M50 motorway, but conservationists have warned they will try to halt the project again.

Work finally resumed this morning on the remaining section of Dublin’s M50 motorway but conservationists have warned they will try to halt the project again.

CONSERVATIONISTS have hinted that further legal action to prevent the removal of important archaeological remains at Carrickmines Castle in south Dublin is being considered.

HERITAGE groups yesterday accused Environment Minister Martin Cullen of failing to protect national monuments.

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent has claimed that the Government’s proposed National Monuments Bill will damage Irish tourism.

Transport Minister Seamus Brennan today expressed confidence the M50 motorway around Dublin will be completed by autumn next year, despite unresolved legal issues surrounding work on the historic Carrickmines Castle site.

Legislation dealing with sites of historical importance must be updated, it was urged today.

BEDEVILED by castles, mounds, fairy forts, druids, and even the odd spiritual guru, the National Roads Authority faces yet another block to its plans for towing Ireland’s roadways into the 21st century.

Work to preserve ancient monuments in the path of a new motorway running through Co Meath could cost up to €20m.

ENVIRONMENT Minister Martin Cullen is expected to rush through new laws to get the stalled M50 motorway project at historic Carrickmines Castle in south Dublin back on track.

An appeal against the construction of a roundabout over the medieval remains of Carrickmines Castle, Co Dublin, must be heard within the next few days, a court ruled today.

A conservationist was today granted leave to appeal against a decision made by Environment Minister Martin Cullen to demolish archaeological remains to build a roundabout.

OBJECTORS opposing the building of a motorway close to the Hill of Tara have pledged to take a series of legal challenges to ensure the route is changed.

Campaigners hoping to preserve the ruins of Carrickmines Castle in south Co Dublin have expressed their disappointment at the Government's latest effort to destroy the remains.

CAMPAIGNERS for the protection of Carrickmines Castle last night vowed to return to the courts after the Environment Minister cleared the way for work to resume on the M50 motorway.

PLANS to run the last section of the M50 motorway through Carrickmines Castle remain in place despite an interim decision to extend and open the incomplete route without building on the archeologically important site.

Officials in Dublin are planning to open the next section of the M50 motorway next August, even though a portion of the road due to be built on the site of Carrickmines Castle has been blocked by legal action.

ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners claim an announcement expected today will result in the destruction of a national monument.

A FRESH initiative to break the costly deadlock over a new motorway out of south Dublin was yesterday launched by campaigners fighting to save the site of an ancient castle.

FURIOUS south Co Dublin councillors have demanded explanations from local authority management for the South Eastern Motorway fiasco, which is set to cost taxpayers millions of euro.

The land needed to finish construction of the M50 motorway in south Co Dublin is expected to cost the Irish taxpayer €300m, according to reports this morning.

FRANTIC efforts were being made last night to stop a haemorrhage of taxpayers’ money after the completion of the country’s biggest road project was stonewalled by the Supreme Court.

COMPROMISE is still possible to save both Carrickmines Castle and the South Eastern Motorway, conservationists who challenged the route of the road project have insisted.

Campaigners trying to save the medieval Carrickmines castle site in south Dublin will return to the courts today.

CONSERVATIONISTS battling to save Carrickmines Castle are due back in court today to appeal a ruling allowing the removal of an ancient wall surrounding the medieval ruins.

A Green Party TD is calling for the suspension of ongoing works at Carrickmines Castle in Dublin, pending a decision on the legality of the license under which archaeologists are working.