Editing Rosslare Europort (section)

==Planned road infrastructure: N11/N25 scheme==

A new motorway costing €350 million is being built linking the [[N11 road (Ireland)|N11]] at [[Enniscorthy]], along the old [[N25 road (Ireland)|N25]] road past [[Wexford town]], with the port.<ref>[https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/inside-brexit-bypass-rosslare-europort-23089074 Inside the 'Brexit Bypass' as Rosslare Europort prepares to be gateway to Europe and Irish 'invasion of Dunkirk'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215043947/https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/inside-brexit-bypass-rosslare-europort-23089074 |date=15 December 2020 }} www.irishmirror.ie, 30 November 2020.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://oilgate2rosslareharbour.ie/ |title=N11 / N25 Oilgate to Rosslare Harbour Scheme |access-date=8 March 2021 |archive-date=23 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123203907/https://oilgate2rosslareharbour.ie/ |url-status=live }}</ref>  The aim is to construct 30&nbsp;km of road which will link Rosslare Europort/Wexford with Dublin via the [[N11 road (Ireland)|M11 motorway]] and Cork/Waterford via the N25. These routes form part of the European Designated [[European route E1]] and provide a direct link to both mainland Europe and the United Kingdom via Rosslare Europort.  The road infrastructure from Oilgate to Rosslare Europort is subject to major delays.  In a press release of 8 March 2021, the competent authority stated that it is anticipated that the project could proceed through the statutory planning processes by the end of 2022 at the earliest.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://oilgate2rosslareharbour.ie/ |title="Option Selection Process Update 8th March 2021" |access-date=8 March 2021 |archive-date=23 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123203907/https://oilgate2rosslareharbour.ie/ |url-status=live }}</ref>  Public procurement, possible legal appeals and actual construction will add greatly to this.  This could hinder significantly the development of Rosslare Europe, despite the European and national strategic importance of completing this stretch of road.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

A very serious question mark has arisen over the ability or willingness of the local authority officials to prioritise and construct the new infrastructure at pace. The option selection process first conducted in 2011 is being repeated in 2021. Lead engineer Sean Dobbs told Wexford County Council at a meeting of March 2021 (the minutes of this meeting were not online as of 20 March 2021) that the preferred scheme option for the M11 motorway would now not be confirmed until 18 June 2021. The further delay was attributed to the increase in remote working.<ref name="ReferenceB">[https://www.independent.ie/regionals/newrossstandard/news/remote-working-blamed-for-delay-in-rosslare-oylegate-motorway-40200022.html "Remote working blamed for delay in Rosslare - Oylegate motorway"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924143934/https://www.independent.ie/regionals/newrossstandard/news/remote-working-blamed-for-delay-in-rosslare-oylegate-motorway-40200022.html |date=24 September 2021 }} www.IrishIndependent.ie 20 March 2021</ref>

The delays were criticised on a cross-party basis including by the [[Local government in the Republic of Ireland|Cathaoirleach]] (Chairperson), Cllr Ger Carthy. who accused the Council officials of delay tactics.  Mr Dobbs said that the council was trying to predict likely commuter trends due to remote working in 2031, but it is not reported if he stated whether the council had the resources or know-how to carry out such a complex study. However he said that the huge increase in heavy goods vehicles using the current route to Rosslare Euoport was due to increase over the years, but how he arrived at this conclusion has not been reported. Cllr George Lawlor stated that the aim of the N11/N25 project was to assist and foster development of the Europort. Mr Dobbs stated a specialist team was investigating rail infrastructure, due to revived interest in the Waterford to Rosslare railway line, even though this was outside the scope of the N11/N25 project (Cllr Carthy also criticised this new focus). Fianna Fáil Councillor Lisa McDonald raised the issue that the council's delays were unconstitutional and could lead to litigation.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

The success of Rosslare Europort is already creating some road congestion in South Wexford and a further increase in traffic without adequate timely infrastructure being put in place could provoke tension.<ref name="fleet.ie">[https://fleet.ie/irha-deems-call-for-movement-of-dublin-port-activities-to-rosslare-as-logical/ IRHA deems call for movement of Dublin Port activities to Rosslare as logical] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223212811/https://fleet.ie/irha-deems-call-for-movement-of-dublin-port-activities-to-rosslare-as-logical/ |date=23 February 2021 }} www.fleet.ie</ref>

However given the delays besetting the N11/N25 project, it is very likely that they will be a major factor in creating congestion to and from the Europort and will be a significant hindrance to the success of the Europort and to delivering a boost to the economy of the southeast of Ireland.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}