Madam, - It appears that the National Roads Authority and the Government have run into the quicksands regarding the proposed new M3. The archaeological and historical aspects of the Tara/Skryne valley will go away. It now looks as though it will be environmentally and politically impossible to drive a motorway through the area.
By way of lateral thinking, could I suggest the following for consideration?
1. Continue with the road improvements to Dunshaughlin.
2. Provide bypasses to Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells.
3. Improve the existing roadway and most strategically of all prioritise the planning and building of the proposed new Dublin-Navan railway link and continue over time to the Northwest. - Yours, etc.,
PATRICK SHAFFREY,
Lower Ormond Quay,
Dublin 1.
Madam, - Whoever wrote the Editorial on Tara and the M3 in your edition of November 27th must never have been to Co Meath and must spend their existence on the Luas, the DART, or in some city apartment which does not involve travel to the north-west of our capital city.
To describe the mooted M3 motorway as "arguably not required" is a piece of inaccurate nonsense which is far from the standards The Irish Times sets for itself.
Whatever the merits of the motorway route (and it is planned to be further from the Hill of Tara than the existing N3), let us at least have some accurate assessment of the needs of those who travel to Dublin from neighbouring north-western counties. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN MOORE,
Leshamstown,
Drumree,
Co Meath.