Scathing criticism levelled at Transport Infrastructure Ireland at Tullamore Municipal Meeting

Scathing criticism was levelled at Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) at the March meeting of Tullamore Municipal District.

Dubbing the authority ”Total Intransigent Ireland”, Councillor Neil Feighery said he believed that road safety works at Idle Corner in Offaly are being constrained by TII.

”I am really concerned about a number of locations across the district where serious safety concerns exist. There was another accident at Idle Corner last Thursday night and three cars were involved. There have been two accidents there in the last three months,” said Cllr Feighery.

The Fine Gael Councillor said it was his understanding that the N52 is under the authority of TII and the council cannot make any changes without their consent,” he said.

He said that the road was designed about 20 or 30 years ago and the speed of the traffic is excessive. He said speed tests had been carried out which shows there is excessive speed there.

”Every resident there has had their adjacent boundary wall damaged. There is real concern about the welfare of all road users. ”

The Blueball based resident said that in the last number of years he has been working with engineers and the Director of Services Tom Shanahan, to try to deliver solutions to address speeding and make it safer.

”I believe it is being constrained at every turn by TII who have refused to consent to solutions which are inexpensive,” he said.

”I want answers from TII and I propose they are invited to the chamber here, to answer questions that I and others have”,

Responding, the Director of Services Tom Shanahan confirmed that TII have responsibility and are the decision makers. He said the council had engaged with the TII regarding Idle Corner. In relation to Cllr Feighery’s proposal to invite them to the chamber he said he would ask.

Councillor Frank Moran insisted that the Municipal District had a right to request a meeting.

”We can request any state funded body to send a delegation in to answer our concerns. We have had representatives from Gardai and different state bodies. He said he would second any proposal to invite TII to Tullamore Municipal District.