Money not an issue for bypass

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has promised local campaigners that finance will not be an issue if planning permission is secured for the Slane bypass.
According to Bypass Slane spokersperson, Michele Power, the Taoiseach indicated money wouldn’t be a problem if the necessary planning is secured.
The Taoiseach visited Slane last Friday to launch Fine Gael’s ‘Standing up for Rural Ireland’ campaign in the Conyngham Arms Hotel.
Before the launch he met with members of the Slane Community including the ByPass Slane Committee (BSC) and the Slane Forum in the Slane Hub Office where he was brieged on the single biggest issue for Slane, the provision of a well-designed bypass to resolve the serious road safety issues that have existed in the village for decades.
The Taoiseach assured members of the Forum that the Slane bypass is a priority for the government.
“Mr Kenny stressed the need to secure planning for the bypass and assured us that finance will not be an issue in returning the project to planning and in constructing a new road, should it receive approval,” said Ms Power.
“We requested that the Slane Bypass be included in the government’s priority list of infrastructural projects. The Taoiseach advised that he will discuss the Slane bypass with the Minister for Transport, Paschal Donohoe, who we are expecting to meet in Slane towards the end of August. Mr Kenny gave us hope that we will see some progress on the long-awaited bypass of our village in the near future,” she said.
“The Taoiseach demonstrated a clear understanding of the situation and the reasons why a new road and bridge for Slane are so desperately needed.
“Mr Kenny is fully supportive of the project, and clearly stated the situation in Slane must be resolved”.
Ms Power said the traffic in the village was chaotic on Friday and welcomed the fact that Mr Kenny experienced what the residents of Slane live with on a daily basis.
Deputy Helen McEntee said she brought the Taoiseach to Slane as she wanted him to hear and see first-hand the situation in Slane, by meeting the Bypass Campaign Group and listening to their concerns and how a Bypass of the village is the only viable option.