A WAR of words has broken out between two local public representatives over concerns about the construction of the new National Forensic and Mental Health Service on a site at St Ita’s, Portrane.
Local residents have raised concerns about how the construction phase of the major facility will impact on their community.
North Dublin senator Darragh O’Brien (FF) accused Alan Farrell, a Fine Gael TD for the Dublin Fingal constituency, of
“talking out of both sides of his mouth
?, after he
“suddenly claimed to share the concerns of the community despite failing make a single submission to An Bord Pleanála about the controversial plans
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However, Deputy Farrell hit back, describing O’Brien’s comments as
“predictable and disingenuous
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Senator O’Brien said:
“Alan Farrell has spent months completely ignoring the mounting community concerns about the chaos that will be caused during the construction of this facility.
“An Bord Pleanála invited submissions to allow local residents, groups or public representatives to submit alternative proposals on the controversial development.
“Not a single submission was made by Alan Farrell or anyone in Fine Gael.
“In contrast, Fianna Fáil made several submissions which included concrete proposals that would remove the safety risks associated with the project and dramatically reduce the traffic chaos during the construction phase.
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Senator O’Brien said that along with Fianna Fail councillors Adrian Henchy, Brian Dennehy and Darragh Butler, he wrote to An Bord Pleanála outlining the enormous impact that the construction plans will have on residents, schools, clubs and local facilities.
“We sent detailed proposals for a separate haul road to the site that would minimise the disruption,
? he stated.
“It is extremely insincere of Alan Farrell to now stand on the sidelines and suddenly feign concern for the community, having done absolutely nothing to influence these controversial plans.
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Senator O’Brien added:
“If Deputy Farrell thinks that raising this issue once, and promising that his colleague, the Minister for Health (Leo Varadkar) will
‘take it on board’ is enough, he is mistaken.
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In response, Deputy Farrell said neither Senator O’Brien nor the Fianna Fail party have a monopoly on representation of the people of Donabate or Portrane.
“Several public meetings were attended by both myself and members of Fine Gael, in various capacities over the last number of months, with a view to fully understanding what the HSE were offering to the community and their intended approach to the construction process,
? Deputy Farrell told Northside People.
“I have made no secret whatsoever of my praise for the joint approach of both local public representatives, Councillors Paul Mulville (Ind) and Adrian Henchy (FF), in their community before politics approach to this matter – an approach which I have been replicating for my 11 years of public service to the north county.
“If Senator O’Brien wishes to turn a community matter into a political or personal one, I am happy to speak of his record of contributing towards the destruction of our economy, his contribution to adding over 250,000 people to unemployment lines, or even his political appointment to Seanad Eireann, just six days after his rejection by the people of our community.
“If the senator wishes to speak of insincerity and dishonesty, I suggest he look a little closer to home.
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“It will not serve the people of Donabate and Portrane to attempt to throw mud at one another.
“It would be far more preferential to work with people rather than attempting to score political points.
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