M50 & Carrickmines: Key Questions Raised

Wednesday June 18, 2003 01:10

by R Mac Eoin

An Taisce argues that more questions have been raised, rather than solved by yesterdays decision

An Taisce questions wisdom of signing original contract in 2000 without proper archaeological advice from the then Site Director * Issues raised by the National Museum & Supreme Court remain unanswered * Questions also raised as to why compromise was never seriously assessed * M50 to now be completed by a direct road within 1 Kilometre of the N11 at Whites Cross

M50 & Carrickmines Castle: An Taisce Statement

M50 to now be completed by a direct road within 1 Kilometre of the N11 at Whites Cross

An Taisce questions wisdom of signing original contract in 2000 without proper archaeological advice from the then Site Director

Issues raised by the National Museum & Supreme Court remain unanswered

Questions also raised as to why compromise was never seriously assessed

An Taisce welcomes M50 will now be finish adjacent to N11

Far from the perfect conclusion, An Taisce welcomes that the M50 will at least now be completed within 1KM of the N11 at the entrance of Leopardstown Racecourse. While this may appear to be the most sensible working solution given the problems with the Carrickmines Castle site, this temporary outcome raises more questions than it addresses. Key questions remain to be answered:

* Why in 2000, was the original contract signed between Dun Laoghaire Council and Ascon without first properly consulting the Archaeological Site Director as to theprobable duration of the excavation?

* Why were the suggested compromises at Carrickmines never evaluated in earnest? Such compromises ranged from “bending the road”, through to letting the motorway run the planned course – provided that the adjacent new road and roundabout was sent back to be properly planned.

* How were the National Planning Institute’s 1983 and the Colm Buchanan Consultant Engineers 1993 reports so readily avoided when it came to plotting the course of the M50 at Carrickmines? Most documentation, from National Library records through to O.S. maps, as to the suitability of locating a motorway junction through this National Monument site seems to have been ignored at the planning stage. This would also include reservations expressed by Duchas in a letter addressed to Dun Laoghaire Council in 1996.

Other matters also now need to be answered – such as what exactly were the roles of top-ranking Duchas officials in allowing destruction of the site to commence, whilst senior National Museums officials publicly challenged the legality of what was occurring? Ultimately, as with the Wood Quay saga, the problems of costs arising out of a flawed contract were blamed on those who had no part in their signing – namely those who had legitimate complaint, as the Supreme Court upheld.

An Taisce believes that efforts must now be refocused to try and complete the M50 motorway – while at the same time avoiding the Carrickmines Castle site. Apart from causing vast damage to the site, this proposed adjacent road & roundabout gives access to “Jackson Way”, the company linked to Liam Lawlor that is currently being investigated by both the Flood Tribunal and the Criminal assets Bureau.

An Taisce would advocate that the authorities now face up to their responsibilities and engage in a meaningful dialogue, engineer a legally valid and positive solution so that the National Monument is preserved whilst the M50 can be completed. Proposals have been made which will ensure the protection of the castle whilst allowing for the completion of the road; the time is now well overdue that such propositions are given due consideration.

17 Jun 2003