EFFORTS WERE continuing last night to resolve a worsening dispute which again saw work disrupted on the second-biggest road-building project in the country.
Farmers are in dispute with the company building the €475 million N6 Galway-Ballinasloe road and yesterday blocked access to their land.
Last night efforts were being made to find a resolution between the farmers and N6 (Concession) Ltd, the company building the road.
The matter was also due to come before a meeting of the Irish Farmers' Association in Athenry, with farmers in the dispute asking colleagues to come out in support.
At the centre of the row are about 80 acres of land at Poolboy near Ballinasloe, which farmers claim they have not be able to use because of flooding caused by the construction of the new road.
One of the farmers who organised yesterday's blockade, Kevin Dolan, said they wanted compensation because they were to unable to farm the land.
"This has been going on now for two years. Promises are made but they are never kept, and we are at the end of our wits at this stage.
"The buck just kept being passed from one to the other," said Mr Dolan, who said blockades would be increased until the matter was resolved.
Farmers used SUVs and cars to block 10 large dumpers from operating on their land. Construction work moved to other parts of the 57km road pending a resolution of this latest dispute.
Last month a local farmer, Pádraig Clarke, blocked nine dumper trucks and a digger from driving off his land. The situation was resolved following discussions with N6 (Concession) Ltd.
Attempts to contact the company yesterday were not successful. A spokesman quoted on RTÉ said a meeting would be arranged with the protesting farmers to discuss the issues being raised.