councillor calls for extra road funding

A COUNCILLOR has called on the government to allocate additional resources to repair potholes on the main thoroughfares of towns and village throughout South-East Clare.

Councillor Tony O’Brien told a recent Killaloe Municipal District meeting that the roads in several towns and villages have been badly affected by adverse weather, particularly the huge volume of rainfall in February.

He said people can go to several towns such as Killaloe, Scariff, Broadford, Whitegate and Tuamgraney and see potholes and areas of disrepair that need to be repaired.

Even in the centre of towns like Killaloe, he said the condition of the main streets were in a poor condition.

“The road network in the rural areas and urban areas have deteriorated significantly. These roads are in a very bad state of disrepair, particularly since the very wet February.

“Potholes are appearing in the middle of towns. These roads and main streets that need to be repaired are not in any Roads Works Programme. We need extra resources to ensure these areas are done.

“When the Covid-19 pandemic is over, we need to attract tourists and people into East Clare. It will be important that tourists can travel on proper roads when they come.

“This will send out an important message that East Clare is open for business. The same warm friendly welcome will still be in East Clare like it always was,” he said.

Acting senior executive officer, Morgan Lahiffe acknowledged the inclement has certainly posed a challenge to the municipal district in relation to maintenance.

“Municipal district engineers are continually assessing damage in our road networks along with senior general services supervisors.

“A programme of maintenance is now in place in relation to the road network consisting of pothole repair and drainage. It is not envisaged that any extra resources will be available at this time,” he stated.

Councillor O’Brien expressed disappointment that extra resources are not available as this implies this expenditure will have to come out of the existing finances, which means that money will have to be found somewhere.

He stressed that one project should not suffer over another and noted that extra money must be found to maintain the vital road infrastructure.

“I am sure that the Killaloe Municipal District isn’t the only district in the country with this problem but it must be fixed.

“There was an exceptional amount of rain in February when a lot of damage was caused to our road network,” he said.

Councillor O’Brien also specifically proposed that the road at lower Ardnataggle, O’Briensbridge would be repaired as a matter of urgency.

Senior executive engineer, Tom Mellett recalled this road was repaired recently and pledged it would be monitored and repaired as necessary.

Mr Mellett said the council would be proposing that this road is included in future road works programmes.

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