There’s concern that Clare’s road’s budget could be depleted next year.
It comes as the local authority has confirmed there is a funding gap of approximately €3m to deliver the schedule of municipal district works for 2026.
Just over €48m was collectively granted to municipal districts in Ennis, Shannon, West Clare and Killaloe this year for restrengthening and maintenance of local and regional roads throughout the county.
According to the Council’s Interim Financial Report, all MDs have expressed concern over the impact of inflation on programme delivery.
Council workers have particularly raised the alarm over the rising cost of stone and the binding agent bitumen which is essential to road repairs.
Elected representatives have since agreed to deliver the programme of works, even with the risk of an overspend in the region of €1.5m to €2m in the council’s budget.
As the schedule of works was supplemented by a €1.4m from the council’s own resources, it says there is a funding gap of approximately €3m to deliver this year’s roads programme.
The local authority says that unless this overspend is funded by the Department of Transport, it will be recovered through a reduction in next year’s funding.
Commercial rates remain by far the council’s largest source of income, to date €50m has been billed and just over €35.7m has been collected from rate payers.
