Bypass once again on long finger

Dear sir - We are very much aware of the straitened economic times that our country finds itself in and the need for the government to spend whatever scant resources are available wisely. It was obvious that the recent Capital Expenditure plan would require difficult and unpalatable decisions and, in the main, the general consensus in the media appears to be that the emphasis of the plan on health and education, strikes a balance between protecting the vulnerable in our society, and the extremely tough choices that needed to be made. However, one project that would have gone an immeasurable way to protect the vulnerable residents of Slane village and those that travel through, has yet again, been put on the long finger - the Slane Bypass. Currently the Slane Bypass is awaiting a positive decision from An Bord Pleanala in order to proceed. In the event of a favourable outcome, the authorities will have 18 months in which to buy the land for the road, the money to do this will be made available. It then appears certain that the construction of the bypass must wait - and wait - and wait indefinitely. In the interim, the people of Slane must wait too, like they have done for the last forty years as successive governments shamefully failed to tackle the serious road safety situation in Slane in any meaningful way and 22 people lost their lives on this road as a result, with many others maimed, injured and traumatised. The residents of Slane wonder what will happen in the years ahead as we wait once more? Who will be called to account for the scandalous omission of any commitment to build the Slane Bypass in the Capital Expenditure report should tragedy once again strike at the heart of our community? It is astonishing to think that €50 million can magically appear to upgrade the A5 road in Northern Ireland, a road outside this State, yet we cannot find the money to construct the Slane Bypass, a road that will save lives on our own national network. If an exception can be made for the A5, why not a desperately needed project like the Slane Bypass? €50 million would build this road, with change. We urge the government, in the strongest possible terms, not to delay a moment longer in naming the Slane Bypass as a priority project for construction within the expenditure programme and finally show some real commitment to tackling the appalling situation in Slane. Yours, Michele Power, Bypass Slane Campaign, Slane Cottage, Drogheda Road, Slane.