Mayo has been allocated €11.7 million under the National Roads Programme 2009 but there has been anger expressed at what was dubbed “the crumbs off the table”.
This allocation is down one third on last year’s €16 million and means there will be no road construction work carried out in the county thus impacting on the N26 and the N5 developments.
The announcement was welcomed by Gerard McHale, Fianna Fáil candidate in the Claremorris electoral area but slated by Ballina Mayor Michelle Mulherin.
Cllr Mulherin added that the county’s road maintenance funding is also down a third meaning that a lot of roads in Mayo will go into disrepair.
“This is still only one per cent of the national road budget. Mayo is the third largest county in Ireland but our neighbours Galway have been allocated €155 million in comparison.”
Cllr Mulherin said the allocation called into question the equity of the Transport 21 policy which is being supported by Mayo’s government TDs. “It’s time they woke up,” she told the Mayo Advertiser. “Industry in this county, which employs 3,000 people, is looking for roads to be improved. They are substandard.”
The funding, which was sanctioned by Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey, is for improvement and maintenance schemes.
Meanwhile, Mr McHale had this to say: “This investment demonstrates the Government’s continued commitment to upgrade the State’s national road infrastructure.
“In light of the current economic difficulties it is great to see the Government’s commitment to the National Roads Programme which will maintain employment and underpin our economic development. This programme provides both direct and indirect employment for the area in these tough economic times.”
Deputy Beverley Flynn is to lead a deputation to An Taoiseach next week to press for vital road funding to secure the future of Mayo jobs. She will be joined by the Chief Executives of Mayo’s four leading manufacturing companies – Baxter, Allergen, Hollister and Ballina Beverages – together with Mayo Industries Group Chairman Sean Hannick, in outlining for Mr Cowen the disadvantage they suffer because of poor road links between the west and Dublin.
