Ministerial meeting over Tipp roads

The Minister for Transport is to meet a delegation from Tipperary Co Council over a €9 million package for local roads damaged last winter.

Though far short of the estimated €197 million needed to bring the county's roads up to standard, the move has been welcomed as at least a start in tackling the worst roads.

CEO Joe MacGrath told this week's meeting of the council that Minister Shane Ross has agreed to receive a delegation. The council has made a submission to the Dept of Transport seeking an additional allocation of €9 million for roads damaged during the recent severe weather season, and this will be discussed with the minister.

Mr MacGrath said he recently met with Finance Minister Paschal Donohue and discussed the roads situation facing communities in Tipperary. The CEO said he was “very struck” with how aware of the situation the former Minister for Transport was.

Arising from a recent meeting with local Oireachtas members, the council has prepared a submission on damage caused to the local roads network and a profile of expenditure for the year. Any additional allocation would be spent in the current year, Mr MacGrath said, adding that road works have been slow to start due to the prolonged winter but that a lot of activity is expected over the coming months.
Cllr Michael O'Meara (Ind), who had requested the council to seek a €40 million State load for roads, agreed that the Government recognises the problems facing rural Ireland. He said An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has given a commitment to local authorities that if they spend all their roads allocations, he would consider giving them more.

Mr MacGrath said Tipperary Co Council always spends its allocations on roads. He said it is also important to point out that the council has never reduced its own allocations for roads maintenance. This is “remarkable” considering the reductions in funding sustained by the council over the last 10 years.

The CEO also wanted to acknowledge that allocations for local and regional roads are increasing again, with Tipperary receiving an overall increase of 14% on last year's total. “At least we're heading the right way,” Mr MacGrath said.

Cllr O'Meara said the €9 million sought would go a “certain way” towards dealing with Tipperary's local roads problems. “It's small money in the overall scheme but at least it's a step in the right direction,” he said, adding that anything received must be spent during the summer months. He asked when the council would receive word on the submission.

Mr MacGrath said the council is awaiting further correspondence from the minister. He agreed that an urgent response is warranted.
Cllr Ger Darcy (FG) also welcomed the CEO's initiative. He also supported a motion calling on the minister to put further funding into the recently revived Local Improvement Scheme, which is well-subscribed in Tipperary.

Cllr Jim Ryan (Ind) asked if the council had sought additional funding to repair footpaths in local towns and villages, many of which are also in urgent need of attention. Cllr John Hogan (FF) wanted an improved IT-supported database for categorising roads in need a repair. Such a move would strengthen the council's hand when seeking additional funding, he said.

Senior Roads Engineer Michael F Hayes agreed that this is something the council could improve. He said a “substantial allocation” is expected from Irish Public Bodies with regard to footpath repair and expected that new works would start across the county in the near future.