Transport body to hold talks with Limerick farmers

THE GOVERNMENT is to be pressed to intervene to ensure every landowner impacted by the Adare bypass is compensated fairly.

Progress on the road, which will link Limerick to Foynes, took a huge step forward last month when High Court objections to the multi-million euro project were withdrawn.

It came after An Bord Pleanála last year cleared the way for the scheme, which is seen by many as vital for the village of Adare, which suffers traffic congestion at peak times every day.

Now in a bid to get construction of the road under way yet more quickly, councillors have resolved to write to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), which oversees the development of roads, as well as the government.

They want to see an agreement put in place with the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) to give them the permission to negotiate purchase rates on their behalf.

Fine Gael councillor John Egan co-authored the motion with his party colleague Dan McSweeney.

The Murroe man - a farmer by profession - pointed out that this has happened on many other capital projects, including the Limerick-Cork motorway.

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“As it stands, the TII would be dealing with individual farmers. Some of these farmers would not be good at negotiating. All the negotiations on the Dublin Road (the M7) and the Cork road (M20), an agreement has been put in place. That agreement should be there for this,” Cllr Egan said.

The Cappamore-Kilmallock councillor warned any one of the landowners - around 150 - who would be impacted by the development of the Adare bypass not to sign anything until they have clarity.

The motion received unanimous support when it came before councillors at this month’s full council meeting.

Mayor Gerald Mitchell said: “We need to get this agreement over the line.”

Their move comes after a public meeting organised by the Limerick branch of the IFA was held to ensure farmers know their rights when it comes to land acquisition for the Adare bypass.

More than 100 people were present at the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare to express their concerns.

TII was invited to attend the meeting, said Limerick IFA chair Sean Lavery, but declined this.

Also invited were the transport company CIE, which itself is re-opening the Limerick to Foynes line which closed in 2001.

It's something Mr Lavery expressed disappointment about.

“Individual farmers may feel pressured to agree to something not in their best interest in their own farmyard. By not attending this meeting in Adare, TII and CIE are dealing in a self-serving way and are not acknowledging farmer stakeholders’ requirements for best advice,” he said.

Among the contributions from the floor were concerns that individual farmers felt “isolated” and “exposed” when TII and CIE representatives arrived in their yards requesting access for works.