PRESS RELEASE - Statutory Orders
PRESS RELEASE - Statutory Orders for the M8/N8 Cullahill to Cashel Proposed Road Development.
PRESS RELEASE
M8/N8 Cullahill to Cashel Road Scheme
FUNDED BY THE IRISH GOVERNMENT UNDER THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN, 2000-2006 AND PART-FINANCED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION
Under TEN-T The Trans-European Transport Networks
Kilkenny County Council
Press Release for Statutory Order Signing
Kilkenny County Council signed Statutory Orders for the M8/N8 Cullahill to Cashel Proposed Road Development.
Kilkenny County Council has signed the necessary Statutory Orders to start the formal planning process for the Cullahill to Cashel Proposed Road Development. Notification of the publication of the scheme will be appearing in various newspapers this week. All affected parties will be individually notified by registered post.
The scheme will link the proposed Portlaoise to Cullahill Motorway to the Cashel Bypass, which is currently under construction. It will consist of 10.5 km of Motorway between Cullahill and Urlingford and 29 km of High Quality Dual Carriageway between Urlingford and Cashel. The Route will form part of the N8 National Primary Route between Dublin and Cork and was highlighted for improvement as part of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2000 2006 (NDP). It will provide bypasses of the villages of Johnstown, Urlingford, Littleton and Horse & Jockey.
Kilkenny County Council, as Lead Authority, is working with Laois County Council, North Tipperary County Council and South Tipperary County Council in consultation with the National Roads Authority to undertake the project.
Malone ORegan Scott Wilson, Consulting Engineers, was commissioned to prepare the Environmental Impact Statement (E.I.S.) and the necessary documentation for the publication of the Motorway Order and Compulsory Purchase Order. The E.I.S. has been submitted by Kilkenny County Council to An Bord Pleanala for approval. Members of the public can inspect the four volumes of E.I.S. at Kilkenny County Council Road Project Office in Dean Street, Kilkenny and the branch libraries in Abbeyleix, Urlingford, Thurles and Cashel at times set out in the newspaper notices. The E.I.S. can also be purchased, either in CD or hard copy format at any of the venues.
The proposed Road will be 2 x 2 lanes, either Motorway or High Quality Dual Carriageway and will have Mainline Grade Separated junctions at Cashel, Horse & Jockey, Two Mile Borris and Urlingford. There will be realignment of National Secondary, Regional and County roads where the proposed M8/N8 crosses them. The estimated total cost of the proposed road development, inclusive of the cost of construction, land acquisition, planning, environmental works, services and other associated costs, is in the region of €350 million, inclusive of VAT.
The proposed Road Development will affect 125 farms, with approximately 320 hectares of land being removed from agricultural use. Five houses will be bought to allow the scheme to go ahead.
Before making its decision on the Motorway Scheme, An Bord Pleanala must arrange for the holding of an oral hearing into all matters relating to the scheme, consider any written objections to the scheme which have been made to it and not subsequently withdrawn and consider the report and any recommendations of the person holding the oral hearing.
An Bord Pleanala will hold an oral hearing if:
a) In the case of a CPO an objection is made in respect of the acquisition by an owner, lessee or occupier of the land and not subsequently withdrawn.
b) In the case of an order which authorises the extinguishment of a public right of way, if there is an objection to the extinguishment, which is not subsequently withdrawn.
An Bord Pleanala cannot confirm the order until it has considered any objections received and the report of the person who has held the oral hearing.
Evidence in relation to the likely effects on the environment of the proposed development may also be heard at the oral hearing.
Further information, as well as the full text of the EIS Volume 1, Non Technical Summary, are available to be viewed at the following website address: www.kilkennycoco.ie
ENDS
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