GREEN Senator Róisín Garvey has called on Clare County Council to “do better” in terms of using funds allocated for cycling and walking infrastructure. The Inagh woman highlighted figures released by the National Transport Authority (NTA) showing that 81.3% of funds allocated to Clare under the Active Travel Fund were not spent last year. “In Clare our local authority was allocated €5,986,000 for walking and cycling projects in the Clare County for the year 2021,” Senator Garvey, Green Party Spokesperson for Rural Development and Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said. “However, according to figures released by the NTA, only €1,113,509 of this was spent. We need to do better for our community. It is understandable that the significant increase in funding since 2019 requires increased capacity, and there have been many additional challenges for our local authority during Covid. However, funding has also been provided for a new Travel Officer role, dedicated to local walking and cycling projects and we need …
Read More »€100k for footpath works in Tulla
FOOTPATHS in Tulla are to be upgraded, thanks to a significant allocation from The Active Travel Fund. Designs are being drawn up currently, with works due to get underway early next year. “Around €100,000 has been secured,” Chairperson of the Killaloe Municipal District, Councillor Joe Cooney confirmed. “Some works have been done in the past in Tulla, but some of the existing paths are now in bad condition. I’ve been working on this issue for a number of years and the funding is very welcome. “Clare County Council is drawing up designs. We had hoped that the works would start before the end of 2021, but with the pandemic and other factors, it will now be the first quarter of 2022 when the works begin.” Councillor Cooney added that in light of the ongoing development of Tulla, improvements to local infrastructure were particularly important. “Tulla is thriving and there’s lots of development underway” he said. “It’s fantastic news now that …
Read More »Call for clarity on paths and trailways funding
CLARITY on a schedule of works for footpaths in East Clare has been sought by Councillor Joe Cooney. Addressing the most recent monthly meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District, the Fine Gael member called on the local authority to outline the footpaths programme for 2021. “We don’t know yet the housing developments which are to have their paths fixed this year,” he outlined. “In some cases, the estates are between 40 and 60 years old. Many of them have paths which need upgrading. I have previously invested my General Municipal Allocation (GMA) funding and I would have no problem doing it again,” said Councillor Cooney. “I’m thinking of the likes of Beechwood Lawn in Bodyke and areas in O’Callaghan’s Mills and Hillcrest Grove in Kilkishen.” Councillor Cooney also asked whether the walking trail from Killaloe will be connected to Tuamgraney. “There is a section still to be done as you come down the hill from Raheen. I’m aware that funding …
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