IRISH Rail has replied to claims from the Greenfields, Roundwood, Oakview Drive, and Ballinacurra Gardens Residents Committee that a lack of respect has been shown to them.
This comes as the residents claimed that an uptick in anti-social behaviour as a direct result of works carried out by the rail transport company recently.
The company stated this week that it has been communicating with elected representatives and residents regarding works at Roundwood Estate since March 2023 and is disappointed that this extensive engagement has not been acknowledged.
A recent statement from the residents committee claimed that “to date, there have been numerous windows broken, patio doors damaged, and assaults with stones as a direct result of the removal of foliage from the line combined with inadequate fencing and security”.
The association claimed that “communication had been non-existent until residents received a flier in January, weeks after the works had begun. An unacceptable, inexcusable lack of respect has been shown by Iarnród Éireann to their neighbours to date in this process.”
Irish Rail pointed out that communication has included a number of onsite meetings with Gardaí, elected representatives, and residents, as well as updated information directly to homes.
“Therefore to suggest there has been no communication is simply incorrect,” a statement from Irish Rail claimed.
However, residents maintain that communication with transport body has been lacking “to the point of rude”.
“Much of the communication was made through local councillors, for which the community are very grateful, however many direct emails were not replied to,” a statement from the residents association said.
“Iarnród Éireann stated that the reason they did not reply directly with us was that they chose to instead to communicate predominantly through local representatives, and this, in their opinion, was sufficient.”
According to Irish Rail, in-person meetings have been conducted in a very respectful manner by all parties.
“Iarnród Éireann plans to install this enhanced boundary treatment at the earliest opportunity to mitigate anti-social behaviour issues,” Irish Rail said, adding that its project security “will continue to closely monitor the Roundwood area both during the current construction phase and the future operational phase”.
