Powerful Forces at Work to Stop Slane Bypass

The Slane Bypass has once again been the subject of unnecessary and unfounded criticism according to Meath East Fianna Fáil T.D. Thomas Byrne and his party colleague Slane Councillor Wayne Harding. This criticism is not new and it has often come from powerful forces from outside the Meath area according to the two local politicians.

Commenting on media reports of comments from Dr Edgar Morgenroth of the Economic, Social and Research Institute (ESRI), Deputy Byrne said: “The N2 through Slane Village has caused huge concern among the community for years and many people have lost their lives on a relatively short stretch of

road. Others have been injured and barely escaped with their lives. The safety of the people of our community is of great concern to me and will be enhanced by the completion of this project, rendering it far from ‘idiotic’ as Dr. Morgenroth is said to have described it.”

“An Bord Pleanála is due to hold an oral hearing shortly and I note that Dr. Morgenroth has made the astonishing statement that he will complain to the Comptroller and Auditor General if An Bord Pleanala grants planning permission. This smacks of unwarranted interference in the independence of An Bord Pleanala and is highly inappropriate. Deputy Thomas Byrne has asked the ESRI to confirm that they do not stand over this statement. I would respectfully ask that everyone currently engaged in the high-level campaign to demonise the Slane Bypassthat they would respect whatever decision An Bord Pleanála makes " said Cllr Harding.

Deputy Byrne added: “While it is everyone's democratic right to object to the Slane Bypass, among the objectors are quite a number of barristers and senior counsel living on the southside Of Dublin."

“I support the building of the Bypass and I have been working very closely with Deputy Thomas Byrne to ensure there is Government support for this important project. Meath County Council, the National Roads Authority, the Government and more importantly the vast majority of the community in Slane and Meath want to see this bypass constructed,” said Councillor Harding.

Deputy Byrne concluded: “Among the comments attributed to Dr. Morgenroth is that the Bypass is ‘totally irrelevant’ for access from County Donegal to Dublin. This misses the point of the campaign for the Bypass entirely. Fianna Fáil is seeking to protect the residents of Slane and of County Meath and the travelling public. I will continue working to do that regardless of the uninformed commentary of a few who seem to get a lot of national media attention whenever they rubbish the Slane Bypass.”