The Co Clare roads programme faces reassessment following a decision last night by members of the county council to ignore Government restrictions on building one-off houses on national routes.
In adopting the Clare County Development Plan 2005-08, councillors pressed ahead with easing restrictions on the building of dwellings on primary and regional routes in the face of threats from the National Roads Authority (NRA) that it would halt its roads programme in Clare.
In a letter, the NRA warned councillors that their proposal "is in conflict with long-established national policy", while a Council Planner cautioned that the move "would increase the risk of road traffic accidents with the consequent loss of life and injury to both persons and property".
The NRA told councillors that if they proceeded with easing restrictions "it will be necessary for the Authority to reassess the programme of planned national road schemes and investment in the road network in Co Clare".
However, the NRA's intervention came under fire from all sides of the council chamber yesterday. Fianna Fáil member PJ Kelly said: "This is blackmail. We are being told if you allow planning permission on these roads, we won't fund the road."
Addressing councillors, county manager Alec Fleming said that following the completion of the Ennis bypass, "serious money will be allocated by the NRA to the county's national secondary routes and I would be loath to do anything to prejudice that type of investment".
The NRA has sanctioned €64 million on developing 233 kilometres of roads in Clare this year with the bulk of it going towards the €190 million Ennis bypass.
