Task force call ahead of port construction

A TASK force to oversee the planning and construction of the €300 million port at Bremore, which will take up to 10 million tonnes of traffic each year, has been called for by Senator Dominic Hannigan.

He pointed out that it was a massive project which would bring much needed jobs to east Meath, but it was important to ensure that it was carefully planned in terms of its impact on the locality.

"The proposed port is four kilometres from the M1 motorway, which is the responsibility of the NRA, and close to the Dublin-Dundalk rail line," he said. 

He stressed that the port would take up to 10 million tonnes of traffic every year, three times the current volume of traffic going through Drogheda Port, and that it would also take some traffic from Dublin Port.                                                                                                                                                         

"It is important we ensure a project of this size is carefully planned in terms of its impact on land use planning, the environment, pollution, transport and local housing needs," he said.

In the Seanad last week, he suggested that the Minister for the Environment should consider establishing a task force comprising members of the relevant local authorities - Meath, Fingal and Louth County Councils, Dublin City Council, CIE, the NRA, the Health Service Executive and others to set criteria for how this should be planned and managed. 

"It is vital that a development of this size is well thought out and well implemented," he said.

Senator Hannigan said that the development would provide many much-needed jobs for east Meath during the construction period and afterwards.

But he would like to see the highest level of co-operation between all the authorities to make sure that the best use is made of the land so there was a minimum of disruption for residents and so that pollution is eliminated.

"For instance, a plan should be put in place to make sure that construction traffic is well ordered," he added. "We don't want to see traffic hold-ups, muck on the roads and unnecessary noise, especially at night.

"This is just one small aspect. There are many issues which will require the utmost co-operation from many bodies."