Athlone’s Cllr Paddy Kilduff is to call on the Minister for Transport to allow discretion to Roscommon County Council to use funding to address road problems which have occurred due to the recent flooding in the county.
The councillor is to put the following motion before the forthcoming meeting of Roscommon County Council; ‘That Roscommon County Council calls on the Minister for Transport Mr Noel Dempsey TD to allow discretion to Roscommon County Council in the distribution of funds from the block grant to assist in addressing the serious road and bridge problems that have occurred due to the recent flooding’.
“I recently called on the Government to make a submission to the EU Solidarity Fund for financial assistance with the flooding crisis. It is clear that local authorities will need additional funding in the aftermath of the crisis. It has also become clear to me that local authorities will need permission to exercise discretion regarding the existing allocation of annual funding for road development and maintenance,” said Cllr Kilduff.
“Roscommon County Council receives an annual block grant and current regulations require the local authority to use the funds for predetermined projects. The recent flooding has altered infrastructural priorities in the county and roads throughout the county need urgent attention which are not currently catered for under the block allocation for the coming year.
“I am calling on the Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, to grant discretion to Roscommon County Council regarding the distribution of its annual funding.
“I will be seeking the support of my council colleagues and sincerely hope that this necessary initiative receives the full support of the council chamber.”
