Mattie McGrath: Demands action on Art Finan bridge after NTA rejection
Deputy Mattie McGrath raised the case of the Art Finan bridge over the River Shure, saying locals are angry after the NTA rejected a report proposing an independent pedestrian bridge and removed it from its programme. He argued the bridge is essential for children and pedestrians and criticised earlier promises of funding and high-profile visits that produced no results.
Bridge history and local complaint
A letter from Margaret Egan, Secretary of Art Finan Community Council, was cited noting the road bridge has operated as a one-way system since October 2015. McGrath said a comprehensive report seeking an independent walk bridge was rejected by the NTA and subsequently removed from the NTA programme, leaving the community frustrated.
Safety concerns and community impact
McGrath emphasised the bridge would be the safest option for children, pedestrians and others using the riverbank for walking or fishing. He said the community needs a solution to ensure safe pedestrian access rather than relying on the vehicular bridge.
Promises and perceived failures
The deputy recalled that the party leader and the Tánaiste visited two years earlier and had promised funding, possibly under active travel, but nothing has materialised. He accused successive governments of abandoning the project over eight years and noted other deputies, including Deputy Cahill, have raised the issue.
Requests for official updates
Speakers called for updates from the local authority, the NTA and the Department of Transport to establish the exact status of the project and why it has stalled. McGrath urged that the matter be checked out so the community can get clarity and progress on the proposed pedestrian bridge.
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I have a letter here from Margaret Egan, Secretary of Art Finan Community Council. The bridge there in Art Finan over the River Shure has been a one-way system since October 2015. Your leader and Tisha came two years ago in the place of glory and promised money, maybe under active travel or something. Now the NTA have rejected a very comprehensive report that was done looking for an independent walk bridge, separate from the road bridge, and they have removed it from their program. People in Art Finan are very angry over this and entitled to be, and the wider hinterland, and we need this situation solved. Eight years to be abandoned by successive governments, one you were backing up the last one and this one, promised a visit from the Tisha from glory hunting and nothing to show for it. The people need this bridge, for children, everybody, it's the safest option for everybody, children, pedestrians, and indeed anybody else walking or fishing or pleasure, and it needs to be sorted out. Thanks very much, Deputy McGrann. I am not sure about the blades of glory, but I am sure the former Tisha's visit was genuine and motivated by a desire to move it on and try and make progress. And I know my colleague Deputy Cahill has raised this as well and would have been there, obviously, on the day with you. So we need to get an update from the local authority and the NTA here, the Department of Transport, to establish the exact status of that project and why it has stalled, if you say it has. So we need to check that out. Thank you. Thank you.
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