29th January 2004

PRESS RELEASE

GREEN PARTY WELCOMES HIGH COURT DECISION ON CARRICKMINES CASTLE

The Green Party has welcomed today's High Court decision on Carrickmines Castle.

"Today's decision is a good one", stated Green Party Heritage Spokesperson, Ciarán Cuffe, "This High Court stated that the Minister for the Environment should not act as judge and jury for Carrickmines Castle.

“Martin Cullen has acted as judge and jury on Carrickmines Castle; hopefully he won’t act as executioner.”

“For the last year and a half we have been calling on Minister Cullen to bend the road and save the castle. His intransigence is causing delays and leading to an increase in costs

A compromise solution could still save much more of the castle and allow the road to be built.

“The lands around the Castle including the Jackson Way property were rezoned in recent years. Subsequently the main roundabout and access roads at the Carrickmines junction were increased in size. Sadly, this has resulted in more lands being taken from the Castle grounds. However Just a mile down the road at Lehaunstown, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is completely redesigning a junction on the M50 to facilitate development. Why can't this be done to safeguard the remains of Carrickmines Castle?"

“Instead of rushing through emergency legislation we are calling on the Minister to reconsider his decision and make changes in the route of the road to protect the Castle remains.”

ENDS