Roads funding will only act as a ‘holding operation’

Roads funding only a ‘holding operation’


Anton McNulty

THE allocation of funding to Mayo County Council from the National Roads Authority will only act as a ‘holding operation’ to restore the national roads damaged by the severe frost and ice over the Christmas and New Year.
Yesterday (Monday) the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey TD announced details of the Governments €1.115 billion  investment in the  2010 National Roads Programme - with Mayo receiving €11,891,334 or one per cent of the total budget. The investment in the Mayo roads is a slight increase from last year’s investment of €11.6m but extra funding to deal with the damage caused to the roads by the severe weather has not been added.
A total of €1.1m has been allocated for weather related rehab and remedial work which is expected to cover the damage caused to national roads across the county. Michael Mongan, Acting Director of Services with Mayo County Council told The Mayo News that while the increase in funding was welcome, it was not a ‘show stopper’ and no extra work will be carried out after the damaged roads are repaired.
“The allocation is a slight increase on last year but we were already starting from a low base on last year. We gave a list of schemes to the NRA which needed repairing but the €1.1m will only bring us to where we were before the damage was done to the roads and it will only be a holding operation. The funding will repair and hold us where we were but nothing more,” he said.
Only €1.3 million has been allocated for the maintenance of National Secondary Roads while €721,700 has been allocated for the maintenance of National Primary Roads, which Mr Mongan said would be spent regardless of the weather situation. He also added that the €630,000 allocated for winter maintenance such as the salting of the network was a reduction on last year.
The funding major schemes announced in the allocation include €1.5m for the Charlestown By-Pass which was officially opened in November 2007, while €2.2m has been allocated for the planned N5 Westport to Bohola dual carriageway. Mr Mongan explained that this money will be spent on consultancy fees to bring the project to CPO stage which should be ready by August of this year.
Phase two of the N26 Ballina to Bohola road which has been held at the CPO stage since February 2008 has been allocated €200,000. The N59 between Westport and Mulranny has been allocated €500,000 for a widening and improvement works while €350,000 has been allocated for the rehabilitation and widening of bridges.
The overall investment in Mayo was welcomed by Minister for Labour Affairs, Dara Calleary  but he added that he was dissapointed that no movement has been made on the N26.
“I regret that progress on the N26 is still delayed. The case is still with An Bord Pleanala but I am working with my colleague Noel Dempsey TD, Minister for Transport, to get it moved on as quickly as possible.
“The overall allocation of almost €12 million for Mayo is a significant investment in the Mayo’s road infrastructure and once again shows this Government’s commitment to progressing projects that will enhance quality of life for people, connect communities and help position Mayo as an attractive place for investment.  Better roads facilitate greater competitiveness and that is why I will continue to push for improvements on our road network,” he concluded.
His party colleague Beverly Flynn TD also welcomed the allocation of funding and said she would continue to work with Minister Dempsey to ensure Mayo road projects are advanced as soon as possible.