Meeting on Dublin Underground Dart

10th February, 2010

Last night Councillor Ray McAdam and I organised a public meeting on the future of the Dublin Underground Dart project and the impact on the East Wall area. The meeting was held in the Sean O’Casey Centre. It was very well attended with over 70 people turning up. Colm MacEochaidh SC was our guest speaker. We were also very lucky to have the presence of the East Wall residents association who contributed so professionally on the project.

East Wall

Overall, the challenge is that the underground Dart is great for Dublin but doesn’t offer any benefits to the East Wall area. This community on the other hand will have to deal with a vast amount of work. The key points that emerged were:-

Firstly, the need for Iarnrod Eireann to fund and provide expert advice to help local residents understand the impact of the project on the local area.

Secondly, the need to decide on and fund representation at the An Bord Pleanala hearings.

Thirdly, the need to get daily access to what is happening at the hearings.

Finally, that we need to do more to raise profile of the project and what it will do to the local area.

A crucial point that was made by one speaker (which rung a bell with me) was why there was no station in East Wall?

We’ve a lot of work to do on this project but I think we got a better feel of the challenges facing us. Ray and I will do all we can to support the residents and local community on this huge project.