An Environmentally sensitive prehistoric site at Ballymount, the demolition of extensive properties in the north inner city and the severance of national road arteries into Dublin city were among the issues which observers at the Dublin Light Rail Inquiry had earmarked as ones which would cause controversy.
There were also the issues of noise, light pollution, the location of a depot and disturbance to business during and after construction. However, to the surprise of all present, objectors by and large made recommendations that the scheme be amended, not abandoned.
Among the first to give evidence were Mr John Todd of the Dublin 15 Community Council and Ms Sheila Terry, a member of Fingal County Council. Both submissions expressed concern at the crossing by the Light Rail Transit (LRT) of main commuter arteries into the city. The 14-kilometre route from Tallaght to Middle Abbey Street, in crossing the Liffey, effectively cuts across the main roads to the north, west and south-western suburbs, the N7, N4, N3 and N2. Both submissions argued that the people in the north and western suburbs would not benefit from LRT, just suffer the disturbances, especially as the route travels along the north inner city.
"It is sad, in fact it is pathetic, that I should have to object to the Tallaght line because it will further exacerbate the traffic congestion for commuters (from the northside) who have no alternative but to use the car," said Ms Terry.
When he addressed this point some days later, a consultant, Mr Bob Sheppard of Mott MacDonald, said that the traffic lights in Parkgate Street would be synchronised with the LRT. It would not be unreasonable to expect less congestion, as traffic coming from Tallaght should be reduced, resulting in a more streamlined and efficient traffic movement than now existed, he said. The issue of the archaeological complex at Ballymount, a prehistoric site which has parallels to sites in the Boyne Valley, and which also has evidence of medieval occupation as well as the remains of a 17th-century manor house, was also addressed by the inquiry. Much of the information on Ballymount was already available to the LRT team, as a result of excavations and surveys carried out in preparation for the M50 motorway.
Mr Michael Sheedy, the Light Rail project manager, said an archaeologist would be retained to monitor excavations in order to preserve any new finds. However, while it was revealed in the Environmental Impact Statement that the M50 motorway had been moved to preserve the Ballymount complex, it was not proposed to alter the route of the LRT.
According to Mr Sheedy, "the works in this area will be carefully monitored and extreme caution will be exercised to avoid damage to the existing standing monuments. It is considered unlikely at this stage that any further significant archaeological finds will be uncovered in this area."
Outlining the property requirements in the city stage of the route, Mr Sheedy said it was not possible to build a light rail system without acquiring some private property interests. He also said that it was quite likely that items of archaeological interest would be found in historic areas, such as Mary's Abbey.
A large number of private business interests, such as Guinness Ireland, the Jervis Street Shopping Centre, St James's Hospital and The National Blood Transfusion Service Board, also gave evidence of their concerns, largely in relation to the potential disruption to business, caused by the construction phase. Mr Cormac O'Brien, an engineer with consultants Ove Arup representing Guinness Ireland, said the brewery's concern was that access to Heuston station, through which it outputs 2,000 barrels of product a day, be maintained.
A number of measures were also proposed by CIE to mitigate the noise and light pollution levels, especially in the area of a proposed tram depot at the Naas Road.
Outlining a history of advocacy for efficient public transport Mr Fergal MacCabe, a town planner representing the Dublin City Centre Business Association, said that light rail, quality bus corridors and the port tunnel would help towards the provision of a balanced transport system.
Mr MacCabe said he had examined the Environmental Impact Assessment and had found it to be "generally appropriate and reasonable".