‘Haven't heard a dicky bird’ - annoyance over Longford N4 project

“I’m tellin ya, we’ll be going around in flyin’ cars by the time Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael get this done!”

This was the prediction of Cllr Mark Casey, one of many councillors frustrated over the lack of progress in relation to the N4 Mullingar to Roosky (Longford) road project.    

The councillor’s remarks came following a motion proposed by Cllr Mick Cahill during a recent meeting of Longford County Council in which he requested an update on the project’s current status of progress. 

The councillor also raised a question within his motion as to how the recent €6 million allocation would support the project. 

He told the chamber, “What we are really looking for here is a full update on where this project is at. It means a lot to this county and to the rest of the country indeed when you see a recent section of the N5 being opened again, which brings more traffic into Longford quicker." 

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Cllr Cahill said it was important that as public representatives they would be able to answer questions from the public about the project and that they were not waiting on a press release to read about it.

He also questioned the possibility of a presentation “from the design team or the people involved from our side of it.”

In supporting the motion, Cllr Gerry Hagan pointed out the impact to date and questioned if the TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) were even serious about delivering the project.  

“We're going to be severely impacted by the developments associated with this new motorway, or bypass, whatever you want to call it. Even currently, test holes that have been dug in different farmers' lands at the moment." 

"As Cllr Cahill said, TII needs to come down and give us briefings on a very regular basis every two to three months in relation to the progress on this project."

"Are they still very serious about delivering this project? Not inside the next 15 or 20 years, inside the next 5-10 years. We need regular updates. Our hands are tied when somebody asks us what's going on. We need regular updates from TII in relation to this project. So we're fully aware of all developments throughout the project.” 

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Cllr Martin Monaghan told the chamber his household was one of those affected by the bypass. 

“We got a big fancy brochure through the door 18 months ago. Haven't heard a dicky bird since. We get the funding announcements and then it goes dead.” 

He added, “This needs to be kept on an agenda so we can see how fast it is progressing. An update from the teams every three months wouldn't be a big ask."

"I know they're based in Mullingar, but even if it's just the mundane stuff of what they're at and what they're doing, it's information for the people involved in this. It's going on long enough.”

Independent Cllr Mark Casey noted the timing of the brochure hand out.

“I heard they handed out leaflets 18 months ago, just before an election, strangely enough. I'm on this council 17 years and we've been talking about it since then. At this stage now it's time for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to stop talking about it and deliver.” 

He added, “Fair play to Seamus Butler, he was leading the charge on this 20 years ago. It’s absolutely ridiculous because 6 million here won't pay for the surveyors, never mind pay for putting a metre of tarmacadam on the ground." 

"It needs action on it, not saying “this is going to happen” or “that is going happen.” I listened to this for years and years and years."

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"I listen to Fianna Fáilers and Fine Gaelers, different ministers, but still there's nothing being done. There's not a sod turned, there's not a route planned, there's nothing done." 

"It's an absolute joke. I’m tellin ya, we'll be going around in flying cars by the time Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael get this done”

Cllr Cahill, a member of Fianna Fáil, countered that he had not proposed for the matter to become a political football.

Cathaoirleach Garry Murtagh asked Director of Services Barbara Heslin if it would be possible to facilitate a presentation from TII so everyone could be updated on the project to which she replied she would ask. 

In their formal response, the council said the N4 Mullingar to Roosky (Longford) road project is currently “progressing well” through the design and environmental assessment stage.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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