NO EXTRA FUNDING FOR ROAD REPAIRS
With many rural roads badly in need of repair throughout The Avondhu region Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey TD has announced that there will be no extra funds for road repairs allocated to councils, writes Brian Moore.
“Local authorities will not be allocated any extra funds for the reparation work - which is estimated to cost about €180m - because of the current strain on public finances, Minister Dempsey told journalists this week. However the minister went on to say that he expected councils to use the funds already allocated to prioritise road repairs.
“State grants are a supplement to expenditure by the local authorities. All authorities need to maintain and even increase their own expenditure on their road networks and it is particularly important that local authorities carefully reassess their planned road programmes for 2010,” Minister Dempsey said.
Meanwhile, local councillor Kevin O’Keeffe (FF) has welcomed the allocation of Regional and Local Roads Grants to Cork County Council.
“Over €42m has been allocated to Cork County Council for roads with €195,000 being earmarked for road repair in Fermoy,” Cllr O’Keeffe told The Avondhu.
Other projects that have been allocated money include €10,000 - Safety improvements works - Clonmel Road, Mitchelstown; €40,000 - Safety improvements works - Scartbarry Cross; €400,000 - Specific improvement works - R581 - Newtwopothouse to Doneraile and €250,000 - Regional roads signposting in North Cork. However, everyone isn’t happy with the way the grant funds have been allocated.
Cllr Frank O’Flynn told The Avondhu, “These are hard economic times and while I welcome the allocation of funds to road projects in North Cork, providing €250,000 for road signage is ridiculous when the roads are in such a bad state.”
"This money should be used to fill potholes not put up signs and I would call on Cork County Council to re allocate this €250,000 to repairs.”
Cllr O’Flynn went on to welcome the allocation of €10,000 for the upgrading of the traffic lights at the junction of the Clonmel road in Mitchelstown.
“This upgrade is badly needed and will be in place for the opening of the new library later in the year,” Cllr O’Flynn said.
Published:
Thursday 25th February 6:29pm
