Council and NRA distort EU report
The report points out that “routes to the west of the main Tara site, running closer to the river Skrane, for example, do not seem to have been seriously considered by the authorities”. Also, “The delegation is perplexed by the choice of route and by the damage done to the integrity of the many sites in the Tara area. It is also concerned as to why it has been deemed necessary to build one of the largest M3 intersections at this most vulnerable location in terms of Ireland’s national heritage… This motivates a clear call by this committee for a substantial review of the environmental impact of the M3 and for less intrusive alternative routes to be designated.”
Further, it finds, “It is surprising there is no commuter rail service between this area, Navan, and Dublin, and that none is planned before 2015 at the earliest, a fact which condemns and confirms an inevitable choice of motorway construction.” This is a clear breach of EU guidelines on sustainable transport.
To construe from the report that the Petitions Committee gave its blessing to the NRA and MCC process is ludicrous. The committee is as critical with the continued destruction of Tara as it is with the continued dumping in Aughinish in Co Limerick, the over quarrying of Carrigtwohill in Co Cork, the ongoing problems of contaminated drinking water and many other issues.
Not only did the report not vindicate the NRA but it also found fault with the new M8 and its rediversion of traffic through Watergrasshill, Co Cork, and the lack of rest stops nationally for truck drivers who must by law stop and rest.
It is time to have a national transport authority rather than a National Roads Authority.
Kathy Sinnott MEP
Petitions Committee
Vice President
Ballinabearna
Ballinhassig
Co Cork
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