M21 - Limerick to Rathkeale/Foynes [advance works to commence shortly]

There must be some bar a claimant has to meet to get a judicial review. Hopefully it is not just filling out a form.

Seeing as the project is approved, maybe progress can continue on tendering etc. While this is underway?

Look to the M28 for the timeline of judicial reviews. High court, appeal to Supreme Court, Supreme Court generally won't be going near it. I don't think it'll stop the road, but it will delay it.

I think some of what you suggest is slightly dangerous because some undeserving things seem to slip into the "strategic infrastructure" bracket since they brought it in. I've seen some wholly private power generation projects getting put through as "strategic" for instance. I'm definitely in favour of the decision deadlines though, I think that's badly needed. And reduced access to JR's too seems to make sense to me.

Despite all the "tools" etc at the disposal of environmentalists to completely stop or delay projects, there still aren't a lot of good tools to enforce good roads design. Things like the current iteration of Shannonpark Roundabout in Carrigaline, or the Tivoli dual carriageway realignment etc: these projects shouldn't be getting approved and I have no idea how they're passing safety audits. So I definitely don't like the idea of allowing roads to progress through planning as "strategic" as there's just too many basic mistakes as it is.

Absolutely. I've had them ignore my submissions (in writing) before being slapped down by the regulator, NTA or politicians. They'll also hilariously often try and "ghost" you, if you point to the relevant standards: they'll communicate plenty if they think you know nothing, fobbing you off about how designs meet all the standards, and they go silent if you point out the relevant standards!

The process is really bad. Like surprisingly bad. You would think that professionals would appreciate you flagging basic mistakes, but it's like they consider it an insult to their profession or something. I can only assume there's a bad culture in Irish road engineering: it wouldn't fly in the industries I work in - people get rewarded for pointing out mistakes.

And as a recent example in terms of approvals, no matter what side of the Galway ring road you're on, most people will agree that it's actually astounding that it was approved, but that they didn't subsequently attempt to defend it's approval. Whatever you think of the grounds for the objection (whether you think it's right or wrong) it was really well known at the time ABP were "reviewing" it and approving it. It wasn't some vague fine-print text clause on a document, it was something that was regularly being discussed and debated in public. And the project was approved without even attempting to deal with the issue.

So yes, I would have fears about putting roads through as strategic infrastructure for that reason. We need to improve the process definitely so that projects progress way faster, but I think pushing roads through planning with the good old ABP as our expert eyes and ears would possibly be a step in the wrong direction!

Depends. If it reaches the High Court then likely two years, maybe more or even indefinitely if those takingtheJR are successful. They could be thrown out or withdrawn before getting there, it which case it would be months.

But advanced works need to be completed first, not sure if they can proceed with a JR is progress.

Which hotel

This is one of them

The vetocracy rolls on, and the people of Adare and Limerick have to sit and suffer. Embarrassing stuff.