Press Release. Brian Guckian and Tadhg Crowley,
10th. September 2007, 12:30.

Meath Firms Urged to Grasp Opportunities
- Presented by Plan

MASTER Plan Means Long-term Viability and Competitive Advantage for Meath Businesses
BUSINESSES in Meath will benefit significantly from the new Meath MASTER Plan, its promoters, Tadhg Crowley and Brian Guckian, have stated today, and they emphasise that the project could be delivered ahead of the current M3 completion date.

Details of the Plan have been sent to the Navan Chamber, and the full support of the Meath business community is being sought for the initiative.

The MASTER Plan (standing for Model Archaeological and Sustainable Economic Region) is intended to help Meath become a model for Ireland and the rest of Europe in sustainable practices and development in the energy, housing, tourism, heritage, transport and business development sectors.

The Plan is an integrated development framework that seeks to introduce sustainable techniques and practices into these sectors over a 5 to 7 year timeframe.

The key goal of the MASTER plan is to develop a more self-sufficient and independent local economy that will not be so heavily impacted by Ireland's over-dependence on foreign investment for job creation and the potentially devastating cost rises expected due to huge fossil fuel shortages within the next 15 - 30 years.

"Sustainability provides a significant investment opportunity for local businesses and the local economy, as it can help an economy to more effectively cope with the future challenges of peak oil and global warming. In fact it can help the Meath local economy and local indigenous industry to gain a significant competitive advantage over competing businesses that are avoiding the issues of peak oil and climate change", Crowley and Guckian say.

The plans and sustainable techniques contained within the MASTER Plan would help to increase tourism revenue by €75 million per annum and reduce energy costs by €31 million per annum, the promoters claim. They could also generate at least 6000 permanent and local jobs over the timeframe covered.

The basis and main facilitator for the initiative would be a sustainable and completely integrated transport network that over time would bring about significant C02 emission reductions, greatly reducing dependence on foreign imports of fossil fuels. It would create balance in the transport sector by spreading journey numbers more equally between road, rail and bus modes, and give commuters multiple and easily accessible options for their journeys. It would also make Meath one of the most accessible regions in Ireland for both freight and passenger journeys.

The plan combines high-quality, high-frequency coach services with traffic signalling priority between Meath towns and Dublin, and includes a rail link servicing the key growing towns of Ashbourne, Rathoath, Dunshaughlin, Navan and Kells. It also converts the M3 to a toll-free format while modifying part of the road footprint to a smaller 2+1 design, with traffic figures cut by up to two-thirds. This would further reduce prohibitive costs to both foreign and local businesses situated in the region.

The transport elements of the MASTER Plan additionally make it possible to protect the unique heritage of the Tara Landscape, and develop the region into the World Heritage Park, bringing a significant Tourism dividend to the area.

Mr. Crowley and Mr. Guckian stated they were excited about the possibilities of the Plan and the opportunity it presented for the sustainable economic development of Meath, and for a significantly improved quality of life for its residents and their future generations.

In addition to senior government Ministers, it has also been sent to the Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council, the County Manager, the Navan Chamber, and to Cllr. Seamus Murray, who is a member of the Sustainable Development Commission on the EU Committee of Regions.

ENDS

Further Information from: Brian Guckian 087-9140105, Tadhg Crowley 085-7159013,
E-Mail: railprojects@eircom.net/tadhgcrowley@gmail.com

Related Articles:
2+1 adds up to a different road.
M3 alternative unveiled as new court bid begins.
Meath "MASTER" Plan - full details.