Funding for national roads has been cut by more than one fifth this year, despite the millions of euro of damage cause to roads during the recent bad weather.
Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey today announced a €1.115 billion investment in the construction, maintenance and improvement of national roads, down from €1.44 billion last year.
Around two third of this budget, more than €730 million will be allocated to local authorities for the improvement and maintenance of national roads in their areas.
However this represents a cut of more than one third in last year’s allocation to local authorities, even though many counties are struggling to cope with extensive damage to roads caused by the freezing weather.
The largest allocation of funds is being granted to Galway County Council which will get almost €179 million for improvement and maintenance, down from €201 million last year. However Galway is getting by far the largest portion of the fund, with the next biggest beneficiary Kilkenny County Council, which will get just over €80 million down from €201 million last year.
Three local authorities have been allocated less than €1 million for the improvement and maintenance of national roads. These are Cork City Council which will receive €751,800, Galway City Council which will get €630,900 and Limerick City Council which will get €378,900.
Some 292km of new roads will be completed in 2010, these are the M3 Clonee to North of Kells, N3 Kells to Carnaross (part of the M3), N7 Castletown to Nenagh, N7 Nenagh to Limerick, N7 Limerick Tunnel, M7/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill/Castletown, N9 Waterford to Knocktopher, N9 Carlow to Knocktopher, N10 Kilkenny Link Road (part of the N9 Carlow to Knocktopher), M50 Upgrade Scheme Phase 2, N52 Kells Bypass (part of the M3), N78 Arthy Link Road (part of N9 Kilcullen to Carlow).
