The split that’s stirring rows: Where Limerick spends its roads repair cash

THE majority of Limerick council’s roads repair budget is spent in the three rural districts as opposed to the city, it has emerged.

It comes as councillors in the metropolitan district accuse their countryside colleagues of trying to “raid the coffers” of the city.

Council transport director Patricia Liddy confirmed to members at this month’s meeting that the metropolitan district, which makes up Limerick City gets 37% of the annual repair budget, with the remainder of the rural county getting 63%.

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The information was given as councillors in both Adare-Rathkeale, and Cappamore-Kilmallock districts called for “equitable allocation” of the budget across all areas.

Independent councillor Brigid Teefy of Cappamore-Kilmallock said: “The current situation is not sustainable in our area.”

She pointed out that her area has 211km of regional roads and 1,063km of local roads, which council needs to pay for repairs on.

Independent Ireland councillor John O’Donoghue added: “Fifty percent of the population lives in the rural districts. Are we even getting 50% of what’s available? It doesn’t appear that way.”

Ms Liddy said that his Adare-Rathkeale district enjoys 20% of the repair budget.

Cappamore-Kilmallock gets 24% and Newcastle West gets 19%, she added.

Fine Gael metropolitan councillor Peter Doyle said the rural members’ call does not take into account the urban infrastructure.

“There’s a large hospital in City West, we’ve a university in City East. All the people in the country have to travel on our roads to get to these facilities,” he said.

The councillor, who chairs the economic committee, said the call for equal rural funding is “a little bit divisive, pitting county against city when there is no need”.

His party colleague, Cllr Dan McSweeney added: “I won’t stand over people coming in to try and raid the coffers of the city.

Everything isn’t that simple. You can argue about road length. Will we start arguing about road width? Will we start arguing about the length of footpaths for maintenance?”

Priomh-chomhairleoir, Cllr Catherine Slattery added: “You have to remember there are an awful lot of housing estates in the city with roads in and out. That counteracts you.”

Social Democrats councillor Elisa O’Donovan was the only metropolitan member to highlight road issues in rural Limerick.

“I was out in Kilfinane with Limerick Animal Welfare and the potholes going up there are atrocious. So bad I logged a case and took pictures,” she said.