The Workers’ Party have issued a call for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to begin an immediate, independently-facilitated and transparent consultation with Na Fianna GAA club, in the wake of TII’s announcement that it intends to temporarily acquire all three of Na Fianna’s playing pitches to facilitate the building of Metro North / Metro-Link.

Workers’ Party representative for the area Cllr. Éilis Ryan said:
“After two decades of delays in delivering a critical piece of infrastructure for Dublin’s northside suburbs, it is incredible that Na Fianna could only be given three days notice – over a bank holiday weekend – that they would be losing their pitches during construction.

“Nobody knows the importance of this project better than the communities that use Na Fianna, who have waited since 2001 for the project. But it is a kick in the teeth that all of a sudden they are again the ones paying the price for the project’s delivery.

The Councillor continued:
“Na Fianna does fantastic work for and in the local community. The pitches that will be put out of use if this proposal goes ahead, are used by approximately 2,000 children every week. Through the volunteer efforts of its members the club engages with local young people and gets them actively involved right at the heart of the community. All this great work will be seriously damaged if not completely undone by the proposals as they currently stand.”

Cllr. Ryan said that a proper consulation process should now be undertaken before the plans proceed any further:
“Nobody is going to try and undermine this entire project. But the young people who depend on Na Fianna GAA club deserve to be heard. I am calling on Minister Shane Ross to appoint an independent facilitator to mediate engagement between TII and Na Fianna. Within this, all other alternative options should be outlined and examined, and guarantees of alternative pitches should be clarified.”