Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail)

This morning I raise a particular issue for probably the third time. It relates to compulsory purchase orders, which are a very serious issue for any community but in particular for the farming community. I raise an issue that is ongoing for ten years. It is ten years since the first liaison officer was appointed by Galway County Council to inspect a person's land on 10 September 2014. In that period, there have been numerous communications. The road has been developed and completed but a number of landowners along the N63 have not been paid. Notice to treat was served on 25 January 2016. It stated that when the notice to treat was served, reimbursement would take place within a 12-month timeframe. Now, it is the middle of July and that landowner has still not been reimbursed. In order for him to pursue the payment, he has had to engage a barrister, a solicitor, a valuer, an independent engineer, a senior planner and another engineer. He has made four offers. He has gone out of his way four times to give an amount he was prepared to accept and he asked the council to work with him. The last time he had a meeting with Galway County Council was this time last year. While he was at the meeting he was more than willing to close the door on this and to move on, but he got a letter saying the case was going to arbitration. He has never been offered anything by Galway County Council. Only in the last month he got another letter saying the date is fixed for 25 July, still without an offer. In the following week he was told the meeting had been cancelled and it would take place in October, but the council wanted to see who was involved in his team. There has not been engagement at any stage.

There is an issue in regard to how local authorities engage on strategic infrastructure projects with landowners. This is no way to treat a person. This takes a mental toll on families. This man is fortunate in that he is prepared to challenge they system but for those who cannot afford to do so, their land is being taken and they are not being compensated.