€32m road works plan approved

KERRY County Council has signed off on a €32 million roadworks plan for 2017.

On Monday, councillors approved the authority’s 2017 Service Delivery Plan which sets out the work of the council’s Operations Directorate who oversee investment in the county’s road network.

The Service Delivery Plan for 2017 provides for an investment of over €32m in the roads network in Kerry, an increase from €28.9m in 2016.

Allocations in the 2017 programme include €7.8m for improvements to regional and local roads; €7.2m for the N86 Tralee to Dingle road and €400,000 to allow for the widening of the Tralee to Fenit road.

There is also €200,000 for improvements to footpaths and €200,000 for bridge rehabilitation works in south Kerry following flood damage in October 2016.

Almost €4m of the funding provision comes from rates receipts and the Local Property THE national office for procuring plant and machinery for councils and state bodies – which is based at Kerry County Council’s offices in Killarney – has established a new, more user-friendly and accessible online system for its users.

The national Local Government Operational Procurement Centre, which is part of Kerry County Council, handles the Tax receipts in the county.

The rest of the funding comes from the Department of Transport which provided €15.3m for non-national roads and €12.9 million from Transport Infrastructure Ireland, primarily for major capital projects on national routes.

Welcoming the plan, the Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr Michael O’Shea, said that the increased allocation from central government for this year was very welcome.

“This is essential investment in our roads network. In 2016, Kerry County Council carried out improvement works on 180km of routes around the county. This funding will allow for further progress in that regard,” said Mayor O’Shea.

“We will continue to ensure that Kerry gets a large allocation from central government in the years ahead to further enhance our roads for the benefit of all users,” he said.

The plan also includes funding for services under the housing, water, environment, planning and fire service areas. procurement of plant hire and contractors for minor works for councils and bodies including the OPW and the HSE.

The new Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), which went live in recent days, lists over 900 pre-qualified contractors available to tender for public contracts. It also deals with applications from firms hoping to tender in the future.