Sir, - In addressing the issue of farmers and road building, J. Jerome Casey (September 1st) is missing the big picture. The National Roads Authority came up with plans for an improved road network. The capacity of the new roads was based on current route traffic figures, multiplied by a factor of about two to allow for the increase in car ownership and population growth. This multiplier was then applied to all routes.
No account was taken of the fact that a greater multiplier should be used close to large urban centres, nor that a lesser multiplier would be sensible in rural areas where population might decline. In addition, the NRA is now proceeding with a plan to build much bigger roads than it recommended in its own study, presumably because "we have the money".
A good case in point is the N8 between Cashel and Mitchelstown. Some £200,000 million will be spent building a road with a capacity of 55,000 vehicles a day. Currently only 8,000 vehicles use this route daily. Even in 2020, only 15,000 vehicles will use it daily (NRA figures). Where is the sense in this?
With any luck the farming organisations will hold up the road-building programme long enough for people to realise that many parts of it are just an ego trip for a few in authority and a waste of our own money.
In any case, Mr Casey will find out when he travels the new routes that the real highwaymen will be the tolling companies, which will take plenty from him for the privilege of travelling on roads which will already have been paid for by the taxpayer. - Yours, etc.,
Cornelius Traas, Moorstown, Cahir, Co Tipperary.