Despite being consigned to history by June, the Kilbeggan Area Committee this week welcomed its final allocation of funds for road and footpath improvement in the district.
Area engineer Pat Nally presented the €1.95 million plan for works approved within the electoral area for 2014, with most of the funding coming from the Department of Transport rather than from local funds.
Just over €300,000 of the entire allocation is funded by Westmeath County Council rates.
Though the almost €2 million may seem substantial, it is to be spread over 64 different locations - from the €3,000 to surface dress 200m of footpath at Cloncullen, outside Ballymore, to the €104,690 grant to restore three sides of the road at Derrygreenagh Park in Rochfortbridge.
The funds will also cover the €10,000 cost of a new bus shelter in Tyrrellspass village, and although it did not indicate a location at this time, Mr Nally was able to confirm that it had been through the design team and “the drawings have been done”.
A total of €913,360 is to be spent on the restoration of regional and local roads, a further €252,000 on surface dressing, and €134,700 in the discretionary maintenance fund.
Doing his best to highlight the silver lining, Pat Nally told the meeting that the spend on discretionary maintenance was “three times what it normally would be”.
“This is a welcome list, but then there’s never been a list that we wouldn’t like to see more on - but that’s human nature,” said Cllr Paul Daly.
“There is a good spread on it,” agreed Pat Nally, and both Cllrs Colm Arthur and Ger Corcoran agreed.
