Thirty property acquisitions needed for Donegal’s biggest road infrastructure

by Louise Doyle

THIRTY property acquisitions are needed to enable the single biggest road construction project in Donegal, to date.

The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) will transform the core road network and includes significant active travel provision.

It will be the single biggest road construction project in Donegal, to date, and aims to deliver significant improvements in three separate locations.

The project represents an investment of more than €750m and will improve approximately 42km of national primary roadway in addition to improvements to the adjoining regional and local road network.

The three sections of the TEN-T Priority Route Improvement Project Donegal are: Section 1 – N15/N13 Ballybofey/Stranorlar Bypass; Section 2 – N56/N13 Letterkenny to Manorcunningham, including a new Swilly Bridge and Section 3 – N14 Manorcunningham to Lifford/Strabane/A5 Link.

All three sections are advancing together through the planning consent stage which will see the publication of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO).

The publication of the EIAR and CPO is currently programmed for Quarter 1 (January to March) 2025.

We asked Donegal County Council how many homeowners whose houses are to be demolished to make way for the TEN-T project have had compensation negotiations with Donegal Liaison Team to begin talks on settlements.

A spokesperson said the process is multifaceted.

“The Phase 3 design development for the TEN-T PRIP has identified a significant number of properties, approximately 30, to be acquired to enable the project.

“An advanced negotiation procedure for early engagement with some homeowners is being finalised currently but has not yet commenced.

This process is outside the standard statutory process and therefore requires Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) approval before commencement.

“We are currently in discussions with TII regarding this and hope to receive approval and begin the advanced negotiations as soon as possible now that approval to proceed to planning and land acquisition have been received.”

The spokesperson added that no property acquisitions have been made to date: “The project must progress through the Statutory Process and receive the relevant approvals before any acquisitions can be made. No homeowners have received compensation to date as part of this project as no acquisitions have yet been made.”

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