EU launches Irish road probe

THE EUROPEAN Parliament’s Petitions Committee is to begin an investigation into the maintenance of non-national roads by Ireland’s local authorities.

Their investigation stems from a petition submitted by Sean Farren, from Carndonagh, Co Donegal, whose daughter, Sinead McDaid, died after her vehicle went out of control on a section of road undergoing works near Culdaff village in June 2001.

Mr Farren, Tommy Gallagher of Donegal and MEP Jim Higgins are concerned road surfaces were a major contributory factor in a number of fatal crashes including that of Sinead McDaid and Tommy Gallagher’s daughter.

Aisling Gallagher was killed in Mayo in December 2004, while travelling on a road with a temporary surface of dense bitumen macadam (DBM).

Concern has also been expressed at the use of DBM at the site of roadworks near Kentstown, Co Meath, where five schoolgirls lost their lives in 2005.

Local authorities have rejected the contention that DBM was a major causative factor.

Speaking in Brussels, Mr Farren said he hoped there would be a positive outcome to the EU investigation which was confirmed by the influential Petitions Committee.

“We have been forced to come to the EU to seek accountability and force a change in procedures in Ireland,” he said.