A West Clare Councillor fears the failure to account for inflation in allocating roads funding could lead to only 4% of repairs in the region being completed this year.
Over 38.7 million euro has been allocated to Clare County Council to cater for regional and local roads.
The total amount of funding allocated to Clare County Council for the maintenance of regional and local roads in the county has increased by more than 3.8 million euro on last year’s funding.
Of the 38.7 million ringfenced for the county, 15 million will go towards funding the Killaloe Bypass.
This leaves just under 24 million for other projects around the county.
West Clare Councillor Shane Talty says this leaves other municipal districts attempting to stretch last year’s budget to fit this year’s costs.
The Ennistymon-based Fianna Fáil Councillor says both inflation and the damage done to the county’s road network from adverse weather conditions means the funding simply won’t go far enough.
A Kilrush councillor is warning that the failure to increase funding for restoration works will act as a ‘huge blow’ to rural communities.
In the West Clare District last year, only 6.7% of road restoration works were completed, below the national average target of 8-10%.
Independent Councillor Ian Lynch says the allocation of the same level of funding in this category could see only 4% of works completed in the west of the county.
Meanwhile, an East Clare Councillor says while the funding for the Killaloe Bypass is welcome, there’s disappointment that other projects have been excluded from funding.
Whitegate Fine Gael Councillor Pat Burke says visibility works at Henchy’s Cross should also have been a priority.
Listen back to the full interview here:
