Senior Planning Inspector wrote:

It is submitted that the proposed ring road is a 30 year old proposal, which is out of date and has not taken into account changes since then, including the construction of the M50, and the DTO policies for model split, favouring public transport, including QBC’s.

It is noted that the EIS refers to the need to provide access to link the shopping centres of Stillorgan and Dun Laoghaire, but it is submitted that in reality each shopping centre serves its own catchment, and has mostly the same shopping offer.

There is no need to provide further vehicular links between these shopping centres.
No evidence has been put forward by the Council that such linkages would provide any benefit to the shopping centres – it is merely asserted to be the case.

The road is put forward on the basis that it will provide access to Dun Laoghaire Port. However, there is an existing port access route, using the N31, and it would be inappropriate and dangerous to bring large numbers of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV’s) through residential areas.

The EIS refers to the need for the road on the basis that it will connect the west of the county with Dun Laoghaire. However, it is submitted that this connection is now in place with the completion of the M50, and its junction with the N11 at Wyattville.
The need for a connection through existing housing estates, as originally envisaged in the 1970’s, when the proposed Monkstown Ring Road was originally planned, is not longer necessary.