Ryan accused of holding Longford 'to ransom' over N4 delays

They were the stinging words to emerge from a post-budget briefing chaired by Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe in front of local business groups, farming organisations and members of the public at the Longford Arms Hotel on Monday.

Patrick Claffey, secretary of Longford Chamber of Commerce told onlookers inside the Longford Arms Hotel of how businesses and local communities up and down the county had been left aghast at continued delays to the project.

The local business mentoring chief said his own frustration had been exacerbated in recent days when the Dublin Bay South TD “dodged” answering questions surrounding the 50km route when pressed on the matter during a recent overseas trip.

“I'm presuming he didn’t get there by bike and again he was asked specifically about the N4 upgrade and again he basically dodged the question and said it was all about cycling and public transport,” the Director of QMP Consulting said.

“There is no issue about it being publicised, we are just not getting traction on the important steps that need to be taken to actually deliver the project.”

Mr Claffey, in singling out the lobbying efforts of both Senator Micheal Carrigy and European Affairs Minister of State Peter Burke in flagging its importance at national level, said getting the project off the ground this side of the next general election was paramount.

“My understanding is it's in the programme for government, we have voted on it and voted in parties to deliver on it and it is really incumbent before this government ends that that decision was taken and is not left to the next government,” he added.

“You guys (Senator Carrigy and Mr Burke) are pushing this as hard as you can, but we seem to be hitting a brick wall in terms of actually the steps to actually deliver.

“It is frustrating for communities and for the county that we feel we are being held to ransom on this almost,” Mr Claffey said.

Both Senator Carrigy and Mr Burke spoke of the acute benefits in terms of economic vitality and reducing road deaths the long mooted project would bring, sentiments Acting Director of Services Michael Nevin appeared to also endorse.

He also revealed how a meeting Mr Ryan held with senior council officials and local politicians in April had not thrown up the results those closest to the project had desired.

“The N4 is a big issue for us,” he said, “Minister Ryan came down and we didn’t have the most productive meeting in terms of the future potential for that corridor.

“It’s a critical piece of infrastructure for this region not just for Longford town, but you have motorway corridors in every part of the country bar the north west.

“It’s the last piece in the jigsaw.”

Mr Donohoe, in response, said those soundings had been received “loud and clear” as he vowed to stress its deep seated value to Mr Ryan over the coming days and weeks ahead.

“I know how important it is as an economic corridor,” Mr Donohoe said.

“As a member of government I have to respect the right of Minister Ryan to make decisions in relation to projects such as this but I will absolutely continue to raise this matter coming away from this meeting.

“And I am getting the message loud and clear how important that project is from the perspective of your economy and county,” Mr Donohoe added.