Ms Marcella Nic Niallaigh:

Is mise Marcella Nic Niallaigh, príomhoide Scoil Mobhí. I am here with James Hart, the parent of one of our pupils. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chathaoirligh agus leis an gcoiste, as ucht an deis seo a thabhairt dom buairteanna ar son Scoil Mobhí a chur os bhur gcomhair. Ar mhaithe le gach éinne i láthair labhróidh mé i mBéarla.

I am grateful to the Chairman and members of the Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport for the opportunity to present the grave concerns Scoil Mobhí has regarding the NTA and TII emerging preference to locate a tunnel boring machine launch site, its support works, and a MetroLink station with a site perimeter running the full length of our school yard and which is some 5 m from the inside of our junior infants, naíonáin shóisearacha, classroom.

Before outlining the school’s concerns, I will briefly describe the site as it is now. I also invite the Chairman and other members of the committee to visit our school and the site to see for themselves exactly what I am describing. Roinneann Scoil Mobhí an campas céanna le na Fianna, Scoil Chaitríona agus an réamhscoil Tír na nÓg. Suíomh álainn atá ann i measc crainn agus páirceanna imeartha. Sa timpeallacht ní chloistear ach glór pháistí ag foghlaim, ag spraoi agus ag imirt le chéile. Tá gaol ar leith idir na ceithre hinstitiúid ar an suíomh seo, gach uile ceann acu bunaithe agus dírithe ar chaomhnú agus ar fhorbairt chultúr na hÉireann.

It is impossible to describe precisely what a tunnel boring machine launch site, support works and constructing a station will entail because those details have not been included by the NTA or TII in the public consultation. However, based on what was envisaged for the equivalent site in the previous metro north proposal, it is likely to include: a tunnel launch pit; conveyor systems; cranes; a concrete batching plant; forklift trucks; compressor, pumps and hoists; and a complement of 100 staff. It will be on a massive scale. Every element of spoil removed by the tunnel boring machines will need to leave the site by truck. That means, over a ten-hour working day, there will be a truck movement on or off the site every three to six minutes, at least half of which will be full of spoil. The expected duration of the construction is six years but this will be the first sod turned in the project and the last returned. A delay suffered anywhere else along the route will be felt at this site.

The school’s concerns are too numerous to describe in detail here but I can at least outline them. We have grave health concerns due to dust, diesel emissions, noise and vibration. Those same factors lead us to conclude that effective education would be impossible during the construction period. We have major safety concerns not just over the scale of the works envisaged but also because the proposal is to take away the only current vehicular access to the school and, materially, all its parking facilities for staff and parents at drop-off and pick-up times. A large number of pupils walk, cycle or scoot to school across the site. They would no longer be able to do this safely. It is also a sad fact of life that large construction sites and heavy machinery attract the curiosity of children. Having a site such as this sharing its perimeter with a naíonra, primary school, and secondary school is nothing less than an invitation for tragic accident.

Furthermore, our concerns are not just for the school. The proposal would tear apart a unique Irish-language community and the work of 60 years in bringing together an Irish-medium naíonra, bunscoil, meánscoil co-located with a GAA club that at every turn supports and encourages Gaelic games, culture and language. That such a proposal should have been brought forward in Bliain na Gaeilge and at the same time as the Irish language is being placed front and centre of Project Ireland 2040 is an irony that is truly heartbreaking.

We simply cannot understand how this proposal even came to be put forward and we cannot conceive of any way in which it could co-exist with the school. We ask the NTA and TII to remove it from consideration at the very earliest opportunity. That is because the detriment to the schools is felt now and not simply once construction begins. Uncertainty over whether this proposal will move forward dominates, and will continue to dominate, the decisions parents take now, and in the near future, about whether to send their children to or keep them at our school, Scoil Chaitríona and Tír na nOg.

On Monday next, 30 April, the parents of pupils starting in naíonáin shóisearacha in September will be visiting the school. Based on calls I have already received, their first question will be about MetroLink and we need answers for them.

That concludes my introductory statement. I hope I can answer any queries that arise.