IRISH Farmers Association (IFA) members met with Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) to discuss concerns over the 35-kilometre Adare to Foynes roadway scheme.
The IFA delegation, led by Limerick IFA chair Sean Lavery, met with senior LCCC members to discuss how the roadway will impact 200 landowners, 107 of which are active farmers.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Lavery said that the IFA raised a number of critical issues, including the need for a code of practice, an additional liaison officer, and better communications on the scheme.
The IFA also raised issues over fencing, the conduct of sub-contractors, land values, and implementation of the IFA/TII agreement.
The farmer’s association claimed that LCCC “agreed to address the issues raised by the IFA”, including providing greater levels of communication with the current project liaison officer and an update on the various timelines for the project.
Mr Lavery raised issues around some sub-contractors allegedly not following rules in relation to maintaining boundary stock-proof fencing, as well as issues around access and working at night. The IFA says that LCCC has pledged to address these issues immediately.
IFA Infrastructure Project Team chair Paul O’Brien said that LCCC also “accepted the need to appoint another liaison officer to work on the project and assured the IFA that this is being pursued”, adding that “the council also agreed to provide quarterly updates on the project”.
In regards the issue of land valuations, Mr O’Brien said that LCCC made it clear that such are “decided by the valuers in line with the rules as set down in the IFA/TII agreement and the valuers have to be able to stand over their valuations”.
“The council confirmed it has no role in setting land values. It was also clarified that the €6,500 per acre fixed ‘goodwill’ payment in the IFA/TII agreement is totally separate and is not part of the land valuation.”
The next phase of work will involve archaeological testing of the lands on the route with priority on the Attyflin to Croagh section. LCCC expects to have building contractors on the ground for this section by the end of this year and completed mid-2027.
When contacted for comment, the local authority said that its officials “met recently with representatives from the IFA to discuss the progress of the Foynes to Limerick road (including Adare Bypass) scheme. This was a worthwhile meeting and we look forward to continued positive engagement as we progress this very important piece of roads infrastructure.”
