Only one Clare Government deputy attends protest march

THE attendance of just one Clare Government deputy at the demonstration opposing Phase Two of the Northern Distributor Road on Saturday last left some of the organisers feeling disappointed.
Clare Labour Deputy Michael McNamara was the only Oireachtas member from the Banner County who participated in the march in Parteen. He was joined by Clare County Councillors, Pascal Fitzgerald, Cathal Crowe and Joe Cooney.
The absence of Deputies Pat Breen, Joe Carey and Timmy Dooley was noted by locals. Fine Gael Deputy Kieran O’Donnell and Fianna Fáil’s Willie O’Dea were the only Limerick East Deputies who attended the demonstration, as Finance Minister, Michael Noonan and Housing Minister Jan O’Sullivan weren’t present on the day.
Speaking to The Clare Champion, one of the organisers, Ed English, stated there was an open invitation for the march, which was well publicised.
“We would appreciate support from the Clare TDs as well. It may be in the Limerick Electoral Area but Parteen is still in Clare and a bit of solidarity would have been good to see.
“I was delighted with the turnout, we got great support from the gardaí and local marshals. It is great to see community coming out in opposition to this road. This is only the beginning of the beginning,” he said.
Deputy Timmy Dooley said he had intended to go but had to go to Dublin for the funeral of a friend. Deputy Pat Breen explained he didn’t go because he hadn’t received a briefing from residents, which he intended to address by meeting a delegation with his party colleague Joe Carey this Saturday.
Deputy Carey said he was unable to attend due to personal family commitments but is committed to being briefed by local residents and Clare County Council on the key issues, having received a number of representations.
Mayor of Clare Councillor Pat Hayes couldn’t attend due to a prior engagement. However, he said he supports the residents’ campaign having successfully requested an extension of time for public submissions.
While Deputy McNamara acknowledged there is need to gain access to the University of Limerick, there is no need for another road crossing over the Shannon.
“A new bridge will be built in Killaloe. This will only take traffic from the tunnel up through Parteen village, which is unnecessary. Money should be spent upgrading the existing road network,2 he said.
Deputy Kieran O’Donnell called for more extensive public consultation with residents who had genuine concerns about the impact of this road and has asked Clare County Council for this to take place.
He expressed concern work on this road may not happen until after 2018.
Councillor Cathal Crowe has suggested that local deputies should meet with Minister Varadkar to highlight concerns about flooding and the dissection of Parteen village.
“I have met nearly every resident in Parteen, Gillogue and Clonlara and they have all expressed unique concerns. There are a number of contradictions. The Government is doing CFRAMS flood study and yet this road is going on completely different tangents.
“Flooding has to be taken into account because of the crossing of the River Shannon between the Mulcair and Old River Shannon which has resulted in the flooding of Springfield and led to flooding of Shannon Banks and Westbury,” he said.
Councillors Fitzgerald and Michael Begley called on Clare County Council to conduct a traffic survey on the existing road between Parteen and Corbally to establish the real extent of traffic volumes.
The Labour Councillor noted that the number of cars using this road had dropped significantly and suggested that all alternatives to the existing preferred route should be examined.
Councillor Begley warned that by the time money becomes available in 10 years time, the emerging preferred route may no longer be relevant.
He recalled when the first PLUTS traffic study was conducted in 1998, a different route was suggested nearer Limerick City, which would not have split Parteen and proposed a link road could be built off the new Killaloe Bridge and bypass connecting Killaloe with Shannon with connections onto existing regional roads.
“In a joint area meeting with North Tipperary Councillors last October, when asked by Minister Alan Kelly TD what my priority was in relation to Killaloe/Ballina river crossing and bypass or the Limerick Northern Distributor Road, as both could not be funded, I stated unequivocally that Killaloe was my priority.
“I, like many others, am surprised to say the least that, in the current economic climate, funding is being provided to progress both projects,” he said.
Senior engineer Tom Tiernan said this project is presently at the emerging Preferred Route Corridor Public Consultation stage and noted the consultation period has been extended until March 12.
“We welcome all submissions from the members of the public and can assure them that any submission or submissions they make within the designated period will be considered in detail,” he said.