Pro-M3 group says 90% of locals back the route

Meath-based groups in favour of building the controversial M3 motorway brought their case to Leinster House yesterday.

In a presentation to Oireachtas members, the Meath Citizens for M3 and the Meath Chambers of Commerce took issue even with the name Tara Skryne Valley.

It was, said Frank Cosgrave, the Gowna Valley, and local people were "not at all amused that six square miles of their countryside had been arbitrarily renamed".

Arguing that there was 90 per cent support for the motorway in the affected area between the Hill of Tara and the Hill of Skryne, Mr Cosgrave said: "We can safely say that this 90 per cent of Meath's 135,000 citizens are saying 'litigation and delay of this road will not be undertaken in our name'. "

He also criticised academics and archaeologists who, he claimed, had said the road was going through the Hill of Tara or that Tara would be destroyed.

The truth was that "the bluff had been called on such hyperbole".

He added that just 14 archaeological sites had been identified in the Gowra Valley.

He claimed "the fact is that nothing that could be given the name national monument has been found".

For the Chambers of Commerce, Adrienne Bowen said 21,700 vehicles every day passed through towns along the N3. Such traffic was causing noise and air pollution, and damaging the health and safety of inhabitants.

However, Green Party TD Ciaran Cuffe asked the groups if they would accept that there was quite a "jump in scale" from the existing road to a motorway.

He also asked were they aware or concerned about development pressure at the proposed Blundlestown interchange, the nearest interchange on the proposed M3 and visible from the Hill of Tara.

Senator Cyprian Brady (FF) said that any decision on heritage or archaeology or traffic could not be taken in isolation, and he assured the groups of the support of the Fianna Fáil members.

Senator James Bannon said he spoke for Fine Gael in favour of the route.

Independent TD Jackie Healy-Rae said his "faith in the NRA has been renewed" by the visit.