Councillors in the North West say roads allocations are too little to deal with the problems that need to be addressed to improve local roads.
It follows the allocations of over €34m in local roads funding for the three Councils in the North West yesterday.
It’s a marginal increase on last year’s figures but local Councillors say it’s still not nearly enough to deal with inadequate infrastructure in the region.
The Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council Fianna Fail Councillor Mary Bohan says there is also no extra money for bridges, lighting or footpath in this year’s €6.7m allocation for Leitrim.
She says the Department is trying to get groups to access this type of funding through the Leader funding schemes which is supposed to develop the work of rural communities and not fund safety and lighting:
In Donegal, there has been a 1% increase in the overall funding figure but Independent Councillor John Campbell says the Specific Improvement Grant decreased by €1,054,020 or 42%.
He says this is very disappointing when there are so many projects in the county needing funding especially Fintra Bridge
He says despite the launch of a new €60m development plan for rural Ireland this week, yesterday’s roads announcement reveal the government’s fundamental lack of understanding of the extent of the local roads network:
In Sligo, the two main schemes being funded will be the Western Distributor road and the eastern Garavogue bridge which between them are getting €400,000.
However, smaller works including increased safety measures and traffic calming as well as bridge strengthening will be carried out.
Fianna Fail Councillor in east Sligo Martin Baker though is welcoming the local allocation for Geevagh.
He says it will seriously increase safety in the village:
