Roads funding reduced by €40,000

ENNIS Town Council’s funding for the roads programme for next year has been cut to €175,000 from last year’s figure of €215,000 according to the local authority’s budget for 2012.
However, the council will be making “significant investment” in the inner relief road in 2012, with construction expected to begin in February or March of next year.
Outlining Ennis Town Council’s budget for 2012, town manager Ger Dollard explained, “Some difficulties were experienced during 2011 in the funding arrangements for the final section of the inner relief road. These arose from the limits placed on borrowing by the local authority sector and wider limits placed on the Government as part of overall financial agreements”.
“These difficulties were resolved and the council is now in a position to proceed to construction for this section of road,” he added.
Tenders have been invited and it is expected work will begin in February or March, he said.
“The redevelopment of the Madden’s Furniture premises has now been completed, which facilitates the completion of this long-awaited piece of infrastructure for the town,” he added.
Loan charges on this project are budgeted at €240,000 for 2012 to meet costs arising on land acquisition and construction costs associated with this scheme.
Mr Dollard also said much positive work was undertaken in the provision of additional pedestrian crossings at a number of locations throughout the town in 2011. And the placing of flashing speed limit signs on the Tulla Road as part of a pilot initiative has proved successful in terms of speed control.
“Subject to the availability of funding in the roads programme, it is intended to extend this to further areas of the town,” he said.