Cllr Reilly says lack of footpath on Armagh Road in Dundalk is 'very very dangerous'

Dundalk councillor, John Reilly, raised his concerns at the Louth County Council March meeting, regarding the lack of a footpath on the Armagh Road coming from the Carnbeg Hotel into Dundalk. Cllr Reilly had brought the issue up at previous meetings, including the February meeting, where he explained that that the hotel is currently rented to the Department of Justice, who are accommodating 100 asylum seekers at the venue.

Cllr Reilly said that with the current crisis in Ukraine, he would imagine the hotel would soon be filled to capacity, maybe within the next fortnight. He told the meeting that he thinks the road is “very very dangerous”. He added that he had tried to contact the management of the hotel but is unable to because “it is some sort of financial institution in Dublin and they are not engaging with me”. He added that he has written to the Department of Justice in the meantime, voicing his concerns, as they are paying the rent on the hotel at the moment.

He stressed that health and safety are his main concerns at the road at the minute, and the whole road realignment needs to be looked at again. “The first immediate thing is the safety of the pedestrians” he said, adding that he has asked the local authority to make a site visit on a few occassions but did not seem to be making any progress.

In response Chief Executive Joan Martin said that he was correct to write to the Department of Justice. She said that the Department would have assessed the location and thought it suitable for the asylum seekers.