25 homeowners and 520 landowners directly affected by new road plans

Twenty-five homeowners and 520 landowners will be affected by proposals to develop a major highway starting outside Ballybofey and ending up in Lifford.

Donegal County Council has asked the body overseeing the project, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to approve an early engagement for those affected by the plan to develop this Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).

What is TEN-T?

The term has been bandied about for some time now but not everyone understands what it means.
TEN-T is a selection of strategic transport corridors throughout the European Union (EU) that have been identified to play a key role in the mobility of goods and passengers through the EU.

Three sections of the TEN-T network in Donegal have been prioritised for improvement and together, they form the TEN-T Priority Route Improvement Project, Donegal: Section 1 (N15/N13 Ballybofey/Stranorlar Urban Region); Section 2 (N56/N13 Letterkenny to Manorcunningham) and Section 3 (N14 Manorcunningham to Lifford/Strabane/A5 Link).

During its recent meeting with the TII the council presented the project appraisal and business case of the work done to date. It showed it is currently at the end of Phase 3 Design and Environmental Evaluation which involves the completion of design, environmental matters and project appraisal.

A draft preliminary business case was issued to TII in July of this year which showed that the project offered clear financial and investment benefits.

Their documentation also shows that due to continuing and unprecedented inflation and ongoing price/cost volatility, a review and update of the project estimates was required to present an up-to-date and robust estimate for the project in its submission of the business case to TII/Department/Government.

This has recently been completed and issued to TII. The project team are also currently reviewing and incorporating feedback received from TII on the project preliminary business case as well as incorporating adjustments arising out of the revised cost estimates.

Following all reviews and updates, the project business case will be reissued to TII for approval, with subsequent expected submission to the department expected early in 2023.

The council has indicated that it expects a final draft of the EIAR (Environmental Impact Assessment Report) and all associated documentation and assessments shortly.
Going forward they say, there will be regular review and potential updating across all documentation to be consistent with evolving national policies as well as environmental and other assessment requirements.

Final coordination, edits, refinements and proofing of remaining Phase 3 deliverables, including EIAR/NIS (Natura Impact Statement)/CPO (Compulsory Purchase Order) will continue up to their publication.

The meeting revealed also that completion of the design and the environmental process will inform and establish the land-take requirements for the project. The land requirements will include all design, environmental and climate action initiatives proposed under the project. All land acquisition documentation (CPO) is also due to be completed by now.

Next step

It seems the next step, i.e. publication of the CPO/EIAR/NIS, can only progress after all TII, Department of Transport and Government approvals have been confirmed.

In relation to land acquisition and landowner engagement the council revealed that in total, there are approximately 520 landowners directly affected by this project. Land and property owner engagement has been significant and ongoing throughout the project’s development.

Their submission asked for haste in dealing with those involved.

“The land liaison team has been continually available to advise all affected members of the public at any time. The number of dwellings required for acquisition is approximately 25.

“Each of these is as a result of direct impacts or significant indirect impacts. The full impacts on a small number of additional adjacent properties will continue to be assessed and determined up to the end of 2022.

“All currently affected or potentially affected homeowners have been informed of our efforts to engage as early as possible with them on property valuation. Donegal Council would ask that all and any opportunities to ease the burden on affected homeowners are approved and progressed as soon as possible.”

The council also asked for an allocation in 2023 of €1.5m to maintain and update the project and commence the next stage, the Phase 4 Statutory Process.