Save lives nots stats - O'Reilly

Cavan County Council is to seek legal advice with regard to alleged inaction by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in introducing road safety measures on the N3 between Lisgrey to Virginia.
Raising the matter at the June meeting of Cavan County Council, Cllr Paddy O’Reilly (FG) informed those present that there had been seven fatalities on that particular stretch of roadway, with at least two near or complete vehicle write-offs occurring each month.
He’s anxious to avoid a similar accident to that which occurred at Swanns’ Cross on the Monaghan-Cootehill Road almost 15 years ago, tragically claiming the lives of four people including three children.
The aim now by Cavan councillors is to see if the national roads’ body can be legally compelled to carry out the work, or if not, to establish who is responsible.
“We don’t do this for the sake of it but, when you are looking at accidents on the same stretch on a regular basis, and you have neighbours asking why is nothing being done, there is something wrong. If the county council is not held responsible then who is?” asked a frustrated Cllr O’Reilly.
The Murmod native proposed a motion seeking an update on the authority’s plans to upgrade that section of the N3.
“It’s unfortunate that the more accidents there are the quicker it is that work gets done. It’s not statistics we want. There is something terribly wrong with the TII (formerly National Roads Authority) when we can’t move a few signs and that would save lives,” he said of a previous application to relocate speed signs on the route.
He added that, with regard to the need for safety measures at Lisgrey itself, “a couple of gallons of paint would do that”.
His comments received widespread support from within the chamber, Fianna Fáil’s Fergal Curtin raising the issue of traffic safety at the Apple Green filling station near Lavey; while Noel Connell (SF) spoke in relation to Mountnugent school.
The motion was also commented upon by Cllrs Shane P O’Reilly (FF), Clifford Kelly (FF), Peter McVitty (FG) and Paddy Smith (FG).
Director of Services for roads, Joe McLoughlin informed the meeting that the council did make an application for overlay funding for the 1.55km stretch of road in the 2017 budget, but it was hoped this could be converted to realigning the road instead.
Mr McLoughlin informed the meeting that the most recent traffic survey available to the council revealed that almost 17,000 vehicles passed through Virginia on a given day.
He was among the members of the executive who came under fire in relation to disruptions amid ongoing road works in Virginia.

Virginia delays
The long-awaited €1.9m upgrade and realignment of bridge in the town, along with works at the N3/R178 Bailieborough Road junction, while welcome, drew sharp criticism from stakeholders over traffic delays and loss of business.
Leading the charge, Cllr O’Reilly said he could not understand why the works were not done at night, or round-the-clock, saying the imposition had “held the town to ransom” with some retailers claiming a daily drop off in trade of €20,000.
He also found fault with the signs located on the N3, which broadcast delays of up to an hour through the town, prompting many drivers to seek alternative routes.
“You could play skittles in the Main Street of Virginia at night there’s so little traffic. Still the signs are telling drivers to expect delays of up to an hour,” he griped.
He again received support in his comments from throughout the chamber, and even called on the CEO of the Council Tommy Ryan to directly respond.
Both he and Mr McLoughlin told the meeting that any contracts for work are drawn up with the avoidance of imposing difficulties on stakeholders, which include local businesses and the community, in mind.
However, they agreed to look at the situation regarding signage into the future.