Local TDS slam roads budget cuts

The Government has come under fire for the amount of money allocated to Louth County Council for the upkeep up regional and local roads.

Fianna Fáil TD Declan Breathnach has voice his frustration at the continuing lack of funding and Government investment in our roads infrastructure.

‘A motion was brought before the Dáil on Tuesday evening by Fianna Fáil calling on the Government, among other things, to significantly increase the regional and local roads budget as part of the review of the Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021.”

‘I would go further and call for the Government to direct the Local Authorities to use discretionary funding to invest in repairing the third class, tertiary and cul de sac roads, which have been neglected for years. I would also like to see proper repairs carried out rather than putting a shovel of tar in and hoping for the best. To do the job right is a better investment in the long run, rather than having repeat repairs on the same site”.

He cited the roads at Ash Big, Knockbridge and Crossabeagh as examples of roads which ‘are nearly impassable at present’.

‘I have made numerous representations to Louth County Council but funding is being constantly diverted to repairs of national and second class roads leaving those people on these roads neglected yet again. I could cite numerous other roads across the County in a similar state that I have made request to the Council to repair.’

Speaking in the Dail, Sinn Fein TD Imelda Munster said ‘ the 2018 budget for the maintenance of our roads is approximately €100 million less than what is required.’

She added that it was expected that there will be an approximately 30% drop in funding for maintenance of our roads. ‘Louth County Council was told that its maintenance grant was going to be cut by 30% and that that would result in an 18% reduction in road works. That is disgraceful, considering the amount of road works, particularly road safety improvement works, that need to be carried out in Louth.’