Limerick farmers treated with 'disdain' over Adare Bypass construction

WORKS on the Adare bypass have begun encroaching on farmers’ land without the fulfilment of a goodwill agreement that the Irish Farmers Association have been working on for approximately a year, a local councillor has claimed.

Councillor for the municipal district of Adare-Rathkeale, Stephen Keary says Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) have placed markers on his and other farmers’ lands without any payment being received.

Mr Keary says that farmers and landowners impacted by the construction of the Limerick to Foynes road are being treated with “disdain and disrespect”.

“There was to be an agreement put in for a goodwill payment. This is going on for probably a year and to date we’ve got nothing and at the moment. LCCC have entered our land, I’m an impacted landowner and I’m not happy about it,” he said.

IFA National Environment Chairman Paul O'Brien said the IFA is very aware of the severe impact of the Limerick to Foynes road/Adare bypass on the farmers along the route and the importance of having a new roads agreement with TII for these landowners.

Mr O'Brien confirmed that there have been ongoing and constructive negotiations between the IFA and TII over a new agreement.

He said good progress is being made and he is hopeful of concluding an agreement as soon as possible.

Start set for ‘really important piece of infrastructure’ in Limerick

According to Limerick City and County Council (LCCC), the council issued the notice to treat (NTT) on all lands that form part of the Foynes to Limerick (Including Adare Bypass) Project in August.

This is, in essence, the council proceeding to acquire all the land necessary for the construction of the scheme, which was the subject of the application to An Bord Pleanála.

“Following the issuing of the NTT, the various landowners have been submitting their statement of claims, which is the amount that they are seeking in compensation. Our valuers then negotiate and issue responding offers and so on until an agreement is reached or the matter goes for third-party determination,” a spokesperson for LCCC said.

“The goodwill agreement is not directly a matter for LCCC. This is a national agreement between TII, the IFA and the Department of Transport. There are ongoing negotiations to conclude this agreement and we look forward to this being finalised to afford clarity to the landowners and the council,” the spokesperson added.

Mr Keary believes that farmers in the area would be much happier if the goodwill agreement was now in place.

“It’s a shame the way they have come onto our land and marked it out, showing the lay of the road. I will not allow one member of the construction team to enter my land, to take down fences and hedgerows until the goodwill is in place,” Mr Keary said.

“The way they’re treating us now is similar to what Cromwell did in the 1650s, giving people the opportunity to go to hell or to Connacht. I’m not going to hell or to Connacht and I’m going to stay put,” he added.

Yesterday, Tuesday, the Government announced plans to prioritise the Adare bypass ahead of the Ryder Cup Tournament, this according to Mr Keary could leave farmers affected by the Limerick to Foynes Road Project in limbo for years if the bypass is the only part of the project prioritised.

“This is only to facilitate the Ryder Cup… As far as I am concerned the building of this road is to support the development of the port of Foynes. If it’s only for Adare village, forget about it, I wouldn’t have it as a priority, it’s only a three-day event.