by Alan Jacques
€4 million has been allocated to repair roads damaged by recent storms in Limerick city and county under the Government’s severe weather fund.
Last Friday,Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe confirmed that €85 million is being allocated immediately to local authorities around the country for works to be carried out on regional and local roads.
This allocation is intended to enable councils press ahead with their work programmes as quickly as possible. There will be a particular focus on repair works, drainage and preventative works to address flooding on roads which have been subject to repeated incidents of flooding in recent years.
Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan said the extensive flooding in December and January caused significant damage to roads and it was important they were repaired as quickly as possible to prevent further erosion. The funding would also allow repairs to banks to prevent future flooding incidents.”
She acknowledged the role played by Council officials in assessing the damage and submitting their report to the Department in a relatively short timeframe.”
Fine Gael TD for Limerick County, Patrick O’Donovan said the €4 million allocation would be welcomed by local road users.
“This winter’s storms have resulted in massive damage to local and secondary roads, as well as bridges, across Limerick. The repair works will improve accessibility for local residents, farmers and businesses and will make life easier for everyone,” said Deputy O’Donovan.
The total fund available is worth €106 million nationally and €85 million is being made available immediately to Local Authorities to start the work. €8 million is also being allocated for national roads and a further €8 million is being set aside for repairs to rail infrastructure. The remaining funding will be allocated this summer depending on where the need arises.
“It is thanks to our recovering economy that we can make these kinds of investments in our road network. It is good for tourism, increases efficiencies for businesses and benefits the people who use the roads on a daily basis,” he said.
