'Disgraceful' comments on Ardfinnan Bridge issue slammed

Heated exchanges took place at a meeting of Tipperary County Council on Monday following remarks made by a senior official during a discussion about funding for the Ardfinnan Bridge project.

The National Transport Authority has stated that the project was not a priority for them and did not approve funding for works proposed by consultants.

The NTA stated last month that it was not in a position to support or fund an independent walkway at Ardfinnan Bridge and had removed it from its 2023 list of projects.

A public meeting on the matter is due to be held on Thursday evening in Ardfinnan by a community outraged by the NTA decision.

On Monday elected members from the area became incensed after hearing a comment from Director of Services Marcus O’Connor. He stated that he did not agree with the preferred option put forward by consultants engaged by the authority.

Elected members reacted strongly to the comment as tensions in the Ardfinnan community continue to mount.
“We should speak with one voice” Cllr Michael Anglim told the meeting after listening to the remark made by Marcus O’Connor.
Earlier in the meeting he had asked had Tipperary County Council “answered all questions” in relation to applications for funding for preliminary design and statutory process stages, amounting to a total of €216,000.

Cllr Anglim said the argument was now with the Government and the National Transport Authority and it was up to the council to keep working to secure funds as there was a need to keep the project moving forward.
Marcus O’Connor told the meeting that the response from the National Road Authority on the matter was very black and white.The NTA said they were not going to fund the bridge.

“I don’t think that bridge is justified, I don’t think it would be used often enough. The NTA say they are not going to fund it,” said Marcus O’Connor.

This comment annoyed members who maintained that the bridge solution proposed by consultants engaged by Tipperary County Council should be backed by members and officials of the council.
“We have written to the Department looking for funds yet the head director does not believe in the case. We have been waiting for eight years now on this,” said Cllr Anglim.

Cllr Marie Murphy said it was crazy that €70,000 funding came from the Department for the consultants report and now the NTA were not taking what the consultants said on board.
She said it was not good that the head of roads in the council to state that what the consultants had put forward was not a good option.

DISGRACEFUL
Cllr Michael Fitzgerald said the comments made by the director were “absolutely disgraceful.”
“We have no hope of getting money from the NTA if the head of roads does not believe in it. You are going to be gone out of this council in a short space of time. Your statement is an utter disgrace,” Cllr Fitzgerald told Marcus O’Connor.
Chairman Cllr Roger Kennedy said “You should not make that comment.”
Cllr Fitzgerald replied by stating that the official was due to retire shortly and repeated that he thought the comment was unfair.

Appeal made for action to be taken to allow people to cross bridge in Ardfinnan safely

"We are not looking for the Golden Gate Bridge," - Fr Michael Toomey

“I do not want to personalise it,” said Fitzgerald.
“Yes you did,” said Chief Executive Officer Joe MacGrath.
Cllr Fitzgerald said it was the first time he had heard that the director of roads for the county did not believe what the consultants said was warranted.
“That is music to the years of the NTA. Are you telling me I am unfair,” he said.

Cllr Máirín McGrath said the director had made a very disappointing remark. She asked why the members were here when the director of services was saying he was not supporting funding coming from the NTA.

“The head of roads for the council is not supporting the members,” said Cllr McGrath.
Cllr Andy Moloney said the move to secure funding should still continue.
Cllr Pat English said the council should be standing over the consultants report.
Cllr Ambrose said the money needed to be secured from the NTA.

Marcus O’Connor, Director of Services said his view in relation to the proposal on Ardfinnan Bridg was always consistent.
“The NTA decides, not me,” Marcus O’Connor told the members.
The director said that the council had sent all of the reports and the NTA had come back and said they did not see the Ardfinnan Bridge as a priority and they were not prepared to fund it.

“You should not have said what you said,” insisted Cllr Anglim.
County Manager Joe MacGrath said the council did not want to be in conflict with the community. There was a process of consultation with the community which led to the consultants report and the consultants putting forward a preferred option.
Now, he said, there was an impasse as the NTA was not prepared to fund it. He said that the director was reflecting a view he held on the matter from the very early days of the issue.
He told members that he would continue to work with them, the community and the NTA to get past the current impasse.

Cllr David Dunne said they all needed to drive on now and get the project over the line.
“I want us to move on together to get over the impasse. Whatever that requires,” said the county manager.