Proposals include plan to requisition lands used by CLG Na Fianna and two Irish medium schools.
Representatives of two Irish medium schools will attend an Oireachtascommittee hearing today to outline their concerns about the impact the development of Dublin’s new MetroLink could have on the health and safety of their students.
Representatives from Scoil Chaitríona and Scoil Mobhí are expected to strongly oppose plans for the requisition of lands currently used by the schools, Na Fianna GAA club and Home Farm soccer club, as part of the €3 billion MetroLink project.
School representatives are also expected to raise concerns with the committee over the impact this phase of the proposed Dublin north-south rail service will have on the Irish language community in the Glasnevin area.
The plans, published last month, include a proposal to requisition Na Fianna’s front pitch and the club’s two all-weather pitches, Home Farm’s soccer pitch, and the driveway into Scoil Mobhí in order to establish a major infrastructural construction site and an underground train station on Mobhí Road.
MetroLink is a central element of the Government’s new infrastructure programme and the route is to run between Swords and Sandyford along a 26 Km route, with a large proportion due to be built underground.
Proposals include a plan to build a tunnel boring machine launch site, support works and a train station on the grounds currently used by the two schools and both sports clubs.
Speaking ahead of this afternoon’s hearing, Marcella Nic Niallaigh, principal of Irish-medium primary school Scoil Mobhí, said the school has “grave concerns” surrounding the plans.
“We have major health concerns, due to the likelihood of dust, diesel emissions, noise and vibrations – and those same factors will make effective education impossible throughout the construction” , Ms Nic Niallaigh said.
The proposed site incorporates lands used by an Irish medium naíonra (nursery), bunscoil (primary), and meánscoil (secondary school) and concerns have been voiced about the impact the works will have on the Irish language community in the area.
Source: Irish Times, to read more click here.
