Councillor Patsy O’Brien has reacted angrily to the news that the Government has cut €8 million funding for the Mayo County Council 2009 roadwork’s scheme for non-national roads, calling the decision a “breach of contract”. This follows news that the Dept of Transport has reduced Mayo County Council’s original budget of €40 million for the 2009 roadwork’s scheme to €32 million. Councillor O’Brien voiced his concerns after the recent monthly meeting of Mayo County Council held on Inishturk when the shortfall in funding was discussed.
“The most worrying thing is that people’s lives will be put at risk by the rapidly deteriorating state of the roads, with potholes and hedge-cutting being left unattended,” Cllr O’Brien said. “Even though we are in a recession, ordinary road users still have to pay road tax and NCT fees, and their money is supposed to go towards basic road maintenance. How can the Government justify cuts in spending which are going to endanger the lives of road users?”
Another issue which Councillor O’Brien raised is the impact that these funding cuts will have on local employment. “Now it looks likely that jobs will be lost among outdoor road workers in the council because this funding has been taken away. The recent budget failed to provide for any investment in infrastructure, which would have encouraged employment growth and recovery in Ireland. County Mayo is already suffering greatly in the recession and the improvement of our rural network of roads could have been used to secure future employment and make the area more attractive to investors.”
