Taoiseach Enda Kenny, TD, has welcomed the allocation of €19,109,576 to Mayo County Council under the 2015 National
Roads Allocations. The funding announced by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe, TD, will be provided to the local authority for national road improvements and maintenance works in Mayo next year. The largest allocation is €6 million allocated for the N5 Westport to Turlough section. The Taoiseach said last week: “I have also discussed this matter
with the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, TD, and this funding will be put to very good use. Roughly, €17.5 million will be used for road improvements and the remaining €1.5 million will be used for maintenance.
“Improvement to our national road network will help ensure it is preserved and assist with improving safety, reducing congestion, and further drive economic growth.
The regional and local roads allocations for 2015 will be announced in January.”
Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring also welcomed the allocation, which has seen the N59 Rossow Bends allocated the sum of €2 million. Included in this announcement is funding for the N5/N26/N58 Turlough to Bohola in the sum of €825,000. The Westport to Turlough road has been allocated €6 million. The Westport
to Mulranny road has been sanctioned the sum of €2 million and the Charlestown by-pass has been allocated the sum of €50,000. Other improvement works at Mulranny has been sanctioned to the sum of €1.69 million and substantial funding has been allocated so that works will take place on the N60 at Heathlawn, Lagnamuck and Manulla Cross. Minister Ring said: “The national road network is a key asset as our economy. I am
delighted to see this significant funding being given to Mayo County Council. It is important that we continue to invest where it is needed so that we not only preserve the standard of our national roads network but we can work to preserve safety reduce congestion and thereby increase economic output. I again welcome today’s announcement of funding” concluded Minister Ring.
The €6 million funding for the Westport to Turlough project in particular is something that Minister of State Ring welcomed. “The need to upgrade the N5 from Westport to Turlough has been talked about for a long time. Up until now, no major funding was allocated to this project but I am delighted that €6 million has now been sanctioned for this road project to commence. The N5 out of Westport is an exceptionally busy road, with huge volumes of traffic travelling on it, on a daily basis, so this funding is very welcome for this road.”
Mayo Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin welcomed the allocation of €825,000 for the planning and design of the N26/N58/N5 project in 2015 to service Ballina, Foxford and Swinford and the North and West Mayo areas. She said: "In the past number of weeks, I have personally pressed the issue with the Taoiseach, the Minister for Transport, Pascal Donohoe TD, and the National Roads Authority as the 2015 NRA budget was being formulated in order to secure funding to advance this project. This funding news comes on the back of annual funding which I secured each year since this Government came into office to find an alternative route since the An Bord Pleanala refusal of the Ballina to Bohola route in February 2010 after which the last government consigned the project to the scrap heap. The project has been progressing and public consultation is now being undertaken as part of the route selection process for this project. I have made submission to the National Roads Authority for the amendment of its emerging plan, particularly, for the N26 part of the project at this stage so that the plan provide for bypasses of Foxford and Swinford. ”
