Minister declines to meet road lobby group

ENVIRONMENT Minister Phil Hogan has come under fire for declining to meet representatives of a new lobby group to hear their concerns about the development of the €120 million motorway in South-East Clare.

Responding to a request for a meeting, Minister Hogan’s private secretary, Eddie Kiernan told the new group it is regretted that due to the minister’s heavy schedule of engagements, he is unable to meet with them at this time. The minister has asked that their request be forwarded to his colleague, Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar for his consideration and direct reply.
While representatives of a new steering group met Minister Varadkar in Dublin last week, a spokeswoman stressed communities in Clare feel let down by Minister Hogan, following his decision not to meet with them.
Martina Duffy, a member of the steering group, Northern Distributor Concerned Residents (NDCR), said she sent a detailed submission to Minister Hogan in relation to the questionable purpose of the dual carriageway, its environmental impact on the area, especially in relation to flooding, the splitting of communities and the transfer of tunnel traffic on this alternative, toll-free route.
The group also expressed its dismay at the lack of consultation by the Limerick and Clare councils.
“They may have held two open days but no information was given. Maps were on display detailing the route but when I asked how this dual carriageway would affect the Derryfadda Road as it intersects, I was given three different answers by planners and engineers. One told me ‘maybe you will have traffic lights’, the other said ‘a roundabout’ and the third official said ‘would you like a fly over?’
“We have asked to review the various reports that the Clare senior engineer tell us have influenced not only the very need for this piece of infrastructure but also its location.
“Access, unfortunately, to these reports have been refused. Any meaningful meeting between Clare County Council and the residents has also been refused. Where is the consultation process in that?” Ms Duffy asked.
Minister Phil Hogan stated in the Fine Gael Programme for Government that local communities would have more control over transport, traffic management and development in their areas and the Government would make the planning process more democratic by amending the Planning and Development Act 2010 to allow for detailed submissions on zoning.
Councillors would also have a legal right to see relevant reports and thereby rebalance the power towards the locally elected representatives and their citizens, away from the county/city manager and the minister. This would mean communities would have more of an input into planning matters that would have a direct influence on the quality of their lives.
Taking this into account, the group was very disappointment to learn that the minister couldn’t meet with them to discuss the very issues within his remit that he promised to rectify in the Fine Gael Programme for Government.
“This feeling of powerlessness should concern all citizens, as I am sure it can and will be replicated in other counties into the future,” Ms Duffy predicted.