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By
Eddie Cassidy
Irish Examiner
October 16, 2001
DEMANDS by farmers for increased compensation for land earmarked for national roads’ development could cost the taxpayer hundreds of millions of pounds because of the delay in constructing new routes, the National Roads Authority has warned.
Construction costs alone could increase by £400m per year if the existing stand-off between the IFA and the Department of the Environment continues, the NRA’s corporate affairs manager Michael Egan said. The £4.4bn road building programme is due to run over the next six years, but has already been delayed by four months.
Mr Egan said the exchequer, which is contributing £2.8bn to the national roads programme under the National Development Plan, would have to pick up the tab for any overrun in road construction costs.
The Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland recently warned some private consultancy firms may be forced to lay off road design teams due to the setback in the national roads’ programme. Some companies, the association claimed, had recruited overseas’ professionals to enhance their design teams.
The IFA, which advised its members last Summer to withdraw co-operation from local and state agencies in the planning of new roads, said campaigning farmers are not to blame for any delays.
“It’s obvious the NRA is looking for a scapegoat and landowners will not accept responsibility for any substantial delay in the roads’ programme,” IFA spokesman Derek Cunningham said.
He also asserted the IFA will continue its campaign of withdrawal of co-operation until a formula of agreement on increased compensation for farmers is achieved.
The NRA, however, claimed a three-month delay in the planning process translates into a nine-month delay in the construction of any route, as environmental studies cannot be carried out during Winter.
Jim Devlin, executive secretary at the IFA’s National Industrial and Environmental Committee, confirmed yesterday some of the issues on CPO and land compensation, which led to the farmers’ protest action, were agreed with the Department of the Environment.
Although the department declined to comment on negotiations which are continuing, the IFA said talks are now focused on agreeing a fair market value for land. The IFA, however, said claims by the NRA and the national engineers’ body were remarkable.
“Landowners cannot accept responsibility for any major setbacks to the national road building programme,” said Mr Cunningham.
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