Mr Jer Bergin, IFA Road Project Team Chairman, has accused the County Council, the National Roads Authority (NRA) and Agronomists of selling farmers out for failing to ensure that farmers are paid compensation swiftly once an agreement is reached.

The IFA Road Project Team Chairman said, “Valuers and consultants representing landowners are of a misguided view that they do not have function in ensuring landowners are paid their compensation. This is simply not good enough, a Valuer is either representing a landowner or he isn’t.”

The role of Consultants and landowner Valuers is particularly important now, at a time when the County Councils and the NRA are delaying payment of compensation by six to eight months after a deal has been made.

Mr Bergin added, “Landowners affected by the N7 Nenagh-Limerick, N8 Cashel-Mitchelstown and N7 Castletown-Nenagh schemes are all experiencing excessive delays in receiving compensation.”

“Various excuses are used including staff shortages, mapping issues, awaiting NRA approval and funding. This situation is unacceptable, particularly because the value of compensation for land is frozen and these farmers are loosing the value of this compensation and cannot invest it in developing their on-farm business”, said Mr Bergin.

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