Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Mar 1991

Vol. 406 No. 4

Adjournment Debate. - Dublin Motorway Proposal.

Proinsias De Rossa

I thank the Chair for the opportunity to raise this matter with the Minister this evening. No doubt the Minister will say that an environmental impact study has been carried out. I would draw his attention to the question I have put, which is, an environmental impact assessment study on the effects on the people of Collins Avenue-Ballymun-Glasnevin areas of Dublin of the Sillogue Interchange.

This problem has arisen primarily because of a decision by Dublin Corporation last summer to allow Dublin County Council to deal with all matters on behalf of the corporation, relating to the Sillogue Interchange and the Ballymun Road and Mobhi Road feeder. Indeed, the councillors for the area admitted to local community organisations recently that they were unaware of the plans.

Quite simply, 99 per cent of the people living in the Ballymun-Glasnevin and Collins Avenue area did not give county council notices about the interchange a second glance because they knew they were living in the corporation administrative area and assumed that the county council notices had nothing to do with them. When they realised the situation in November 1990 they contacted a local representative who wrote to the county council complaining that residents had not been consulted. To date, so far as I am aware, the county council have not responded to that letter. A total of 80,000 people will be affected by the increased traffic which this interchange will generate on the Ballymun Road, Mobhi Road, and adjacent link roads.

None of them was consulted by the associations or tenants associations was notified by the county council. These are the facts and the Minister can raise his eyebrows if he wishes but the county council did not write to any of the residents associations or tenants associations. I would remind the Minister that I am a member of one of the associations and know this for a fact.

The five schools on the main Ballymun-Mobhi Roads were not consulted. The junior comprehensive school, the senior comprehensive school, Our Lady of Victories School, Scoil Chaitríona, Scoil an tSeachtar Laoch and the Dublin City University all indicate that they were not contacted by the county council on the impact which this might have on them and on the 8,000 students who use the road on a daily basis going to and from those schools.

The school principals have expressed amazement in letters written to the Minister and the county council that an impact study could have been completed without consultation. One of the strange aspects of this is that it appears that an environmental impact study was carried out in March 1990 on a related link road but a question by a city councillor to the Dublin City Manager drew the reply that no road works were planned for at least five years. This in turn led to a further sense of complacency by those who have subsequently found themselves to be affected.

The householders and the school principals are now concerned that on 28 February the Minister published his approval for the interchange and the improvements on the Ballymun-Mobhi Roads to cater for the increased traffic without those living there having been consulted. The only appeal mechanism they now have is to seek a review of the decision by the High Court. Local people, obviously, do not have the money to take such costly course of action. The alternative option they have is to make a formal complaint to the European Commission that the Minister and the county council have been negligent with regard to the carrying out of an environmental impact study and that the proposed scheme does not, therefore, qualify for EC funding on which this scheme is dependent.

The Minister now has an opportunity to redress the wrong done in this case before such action is taken by setting aside his approval and allow time for a proper and comprehensive environmental impact study to be carried out. This would give the people of the area affected an opportunity to make submissions and address their concerns, particularly in relation to the safety of their children going to and from the five schools and Dublin City University.

Minister for the Environment (Mr. Flynn)

At the outset I would refer the Deputy to my statement of 20 February 1991 announcing my decision to approve, with modifications, Dublin County Council's motorway scheme for the proposed northern cross route.

The northern cross route is the northern leg of the Dublin Ring Road and is a continuation of the Western Parkway Motorway. It will run between the N3 Navan Road at Blanchardstown and the N1 Belfast Road at Turnapin. There are also ancillary roads including an extension from Turnapin along the line of Turnapin Lane-Belcamp Lane to the Malahide Road, and the re-alignment of the Ballymun Road where it intersects with the proposed motorway. The new road will be 10.1 kilometres long with a dual two lane facility.

Interchanges are proposed at four locations — Navan Road, Ashbourne Road, Ballymun Road and at Turnapin on the new Airport Road.

I presume the Deputy is referring to the proposed interchange of the northern cross route with the Ballymun Road.

The motorway scheme for the northern cross route was prepared by Dublin County Council acting on their own behalf and on behalf of Dublin Corporation in so far as sections of the proposed scheme lie in the administrative area of the corporation.

The county council also prepared an environmental impact study for the scheme in accordance with the European Communities (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Motorways) Regulations of 1988 which give effect to the requirements of the EC Directive on environmental impact assessment in so far as motorways are concerned.

These regulations require that, before making a motorway scheme under section 4 of the Local Government (Roads and Motorways) Act, 1974, a road authority must have regard to the preservation of scenic and natural amenities and must prepare an environmental impact study of the proposed motorway which must identify, describe and assess the direct and indirect environmental effects of the construction of the proposed motorway on human beings, fauna and flora, on soil, water, air, climate and the landscape; on material assets, and on the cultural heritage.

The regulations lay down the type of information which must be provided in an environmental impact study. This includes a description of the likely significant effects of the proposed motorway on the environment, including the data required to identify and assess the main effects and information as to the emission of pollutants and the creation of nuisance; a description of the measures envisaged in order to avoid, reduce and, if possible, remedy significant adverse environmental effects of a proposed motorway: and an outline of the main alternative motorway alignments, if any, studied and an indication of the main reasons for selecting the proposed alignment, taking into account the environmental effects.

On 2 April 1990, Dublin County Council gave public notice of the making of the motorway scheme. The notice advised the general public of the availability for inspection of maps, plans and the environmental impact study relating to the scheme. It also advised the general public of the fact that a public inquiry would be held into all matters relating to the scheme and that the Minister, before approving a scheme, would consider the report of the person who conducted the inquiry and any objections which had been made to him and which had not been withdrawn. Notice of the motorway scheme and the environmental impact study was sent individually to persons directly affected by the scheme and to prescribed bodies such as the Office of Public Works, Bord Fáilte and An Taisce.

On 19 June 1990, public notice was given of the holding of a public inquiry into the motorway scheme, including the environmental impact of the proposed motorway, and objections which had been received against its approval. Persons directly affected by the scheme and those who had lodged objections were notified individually of the arrangement. The inquiry was held over three full days from Tuesday 26 June to Thursday 28 June 1990. A total of 39 submissions were lodged with me before the inquiry and a further five submissions were made by members of the public at the inquiry.

After considering the evidence taken at the public inquiry, the report of the inspector who conducted the inquiry, and the environmental impact study, I approved the motorway scheme, subject to modifications, on 7 February 1991. Public notice of the making of my order was given on 28 February 1991.

I should point out to the Deputy that the situation following the publication of notice of the approval of a motorway scheme is that persons aggrieved may, not later than 21 days after publication of the notice, apply to the High Court questioning the validity of the motorway scheme as confirmed. In the circumstances, I believe it would be singularly inappropriate for me to comment on specific aspects of the scheme at this time lest in any way it should prove prejudicial to the rights of any person who may wish to challenge the validity of the scheme as confirmed.