Councillor slams ongoing exclusion of east Mayo towns from Active Travel finding

BALLYHAUNIS-based county councillor Alma Gallagher has described the exclusion of Ballyhaunis, Kiltimagh, and Charlestown from the latest Active Travel initiative as ‘disgraceful’.

A total of €3 million has been allocated for 27 Active Travel projects across Mayo, ranging from footpaths to cycle routes. This included seven in the Claremorris Local Electoral Area which Cllr Gallagher represents.

Cllr Gallagher said the potential for economic group and tourism in the area remained ‘untapped’ due to the criteria laid down by the National Transport Authority for eligibility for the scheme.

Under these criteria, projects can only be considered for Active Travel funding where they are recommended in a Local Transport Plan, Safe Routes to School Outline Delivery Plan or Active Travel Plan.

“Just two years ago more than €220,000 was de-committed from Ballyhaunis, exacerbating the already existing infrastructural challenges,” Cllr Gallagher said.

“These setbacks highlight a systemic failure to prioritise balanced regional development and to ensure that areas outside of the major urban centres are not left behind.”

The Fine Gael councillor said that east Mayo needed a fair share of funding and resources to have the same chance to flourish as other areas.

“By side-lining towns like Ballyhaunis, Kiltimagh, and Charlestown, and their hinterlands, the authorities are sending a message that the needs of rural areas are less important than those of larger urban centres. This only exacerbates the feeling of disconnection and inequality that many rural communities already feel,” she added.

“The failure to invest in areas like this is not just a missed opportunity—it is an ongoing injustice that denies communities the resources they need to thrive. For the region to reach its full potential, it must receive the investment and attention it deserves. Balanced development is not a luxury, but a necessity for enhancing vital rural infrastructure,’’ Cllr Gallagher said.