Farmers bid to resolve roads row

Farmers will meet the National Roads Authority (NRA) today to resolve a row over the compulsory purchase of farmland.

Around 6,000 farmers will be forced to sell their land to make way for the 20 national road schemes which are under construction and the 20 others in the pipeline.

The Irish Farmers Association said it would be demanding that that local authorities pay the full open market value for land being acquired within the agreed deadlines.

“Landowners affected by major national roads developments are being put at a serious financial loss resulting from the time it is taking local authorities and the NRA to get to the ‘dealing point’ to agree landowner compensation for land.

“The land market is very strong and all compensation packages being agreed must fully reflect this,” said president John Dillon.

He said the delay in paying the farmers within the agreed period of six months had caused unnecessary stress, anxiety and financial loss to farmers.

“This is unacceptable to IFA and must be immediately corrected by the NRA and local authorities.”

The roads involved include the planned M3 motorway in Meath, the planned M9 motorway to Waterford and the M2 motorway from Castleblaney to Clontibret.

Under the National Development Plan, 40,000 acres of farmland will be acquired from farmers to build 20,000 kilometres of road.