The Dublin/Cork motorway
As many of you are aware, a new motorway between Dublin and Cork is currently under construction. The government have told us that this is going to be a toll road. The local phase of this motorway is supposed to run from Cashel to Mitchelstown, more or less parallel to the existing NS. A group called NAG have set up to oppose the notion that a motorway is necessary between Cashel and Mitchelstown. Traffic volumes on the existing road are about 7000 vehicles per day. According to the National Roads Authority (NRA), this will rise to about 15000 vehicles per day by the year 2020. On this basis, they recommended to the government in 1999 that the existing NS be widened, and indeed this has already been done between Cahir and Mitchelstown. However, the government ignored this advice, and decided to build a motorway instead. And it's not that they'll be getting much European money for this; Europe will pay 10% maximum. 

The capacity of the new motorway will be 55,000 vehicles per day. With only 15,000 vehicles per day forecast to use the road by 2020, NAG asks what is the need for a huge motorway? A huge fortune (£125,000,000) of taxpayers' money will be spent to build a road between Cahir and Mitchelstown which will never be used at even half capacity. The countryside will be despoiled and communities severed, to get people from Dublin to Cork a few minutes quicker. And what for, but to get to the traffic jams a little bit sooner. And this motorway will not benefit the people of Tipperary. Who will stop off the new high-speed freeway to take a look at Cahir Castle or have a cup of tea. No, it'll be full speed ahead until you stop at some motorway "service point" where there'll be only one shop and you'll probably be ripped off. Ripped off, just like the people of Tipperary will be if this monstrous motorway gets to go ahead. 

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