Planned roads projects in Limerick under threat due to ‘limited’ funding
Members of the Adare-Rathkeale MD have been told increasing costs are placing significant pressure on council budgets
RISING costs could impact planned road works across west Limerick this year, councillors have been warned.
This was confirmed during a discussion on the District Engineer’s report which was circulated ahead of the June meeting of the Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District.
Senior executive engineer Kevin Murphy told councillors that increasing costs are placing significant pressure on available budgets.
He said the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage had advised local authorities that additional funding was unlikely to be forthcoming this year, meaning some planned works programmes may have to be curtailed.
Mr Murphy pointed to increases in the cost of fuel, stone and other materials, adding that maintenance costs had also risen significantly. “We’re very limited on the money we have,” he said.
Cllr John O’Donoghue said the situation was having a visible impact on rural roads across the district. “We don’t have the funds to maintain what we have,” he said.
“The weeds are growing out onto roads and the roads are buckling.” Cllr O’Donoghue argued that current funding levels were not working for rural areas and said concerns should be raised directly with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).
The weeds are growing out onto roads and the roads are buckling
Cllr Stephan Keary also voiced concerns, saying overgrown verges were narrowing roads and reducing visibility at junctions. He cited a local road in his own area where motorists turning onto the road were struggling to see oncoming traffic.
Meanwhile, Cllr Adam Teskey questioned whether essential maintenance works should be delayed because of rising costs.
“When silage needs to be cut, you cut it,” he said.
Cllr Teskey said rising costs could not be used as a reason to delay essential road maintenance works, including hedge cutting and addressing visibility issues at junctions.
He described road safety as a matter of protecting lives and criticised what he viewed as a lack of investment in maintaining the road network.
Director of Services Vincent Murray suggested the municipal district could make further representations to the NTA seeking additional funding, describing it as a “huge concern” for the area.