Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has expressed severe criticism of the Government for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) 2017 National roads allocation for Donegal.
Donegal is to get a reduced allocation with €10,595,000 being allocated to cover all national Primary and secondary roads throughout the county and that would include allocations to construct new roads.
Deputy Gallagher the budget for major construction projects has been cut by 47% and the budget for planning and design of new projects cut by 15%.
The maintenance budget for the upkeep and pavement of National primary and secondary roads is also cut by 15% for 2017.
Deputy Gallagher fumed “In short no new projects, no new plans and just about enough to maintain the roads.
While welcoming the allocation of €1 million euro for the continuation N56 Gweebarra to Glenties, he rounded on Government for failing to provide TII with sufficient funds to continue the works on the N56 Mountcharles to Inver, N56 Bluebanks to Coolboy or the N15 and N14 between Ballybofey to Lifford and Lifford to Letterkenny and the continuation of works at Cappry to Ballybofey to list but a few.
“The allocation for 2017 will be just sufficient to maintain the roads to avoid potholing and other routine maintenance but projects such as those listed above are on the road to nowhere with a complete failure to provide funding for them in the 2017 allocation.
“There was a genuine belief this year with increased revenue in the National Exchequer that increased roads grants would be allocated to Donegal – obviously the message hasn’t got to the Department of Transport or our voice been heard at Government,” he said.
Deputy Gallgaher added the national roads allocation to Donegal is nothing short of a disgrace and said he is calling on the Department of Transport and the Government to stand up for Donegal.
“They need to provide us with an increase in funding in order that we can get some of our new road projects off the ground and improve the county infrastructure – so that future investment and job creation can be incentivised within the county.
“There is a huge need to invest in Donegal roads but allocations such as this one will no advance our infrastructure demands – and a great opportunity was missed by the Government to prioritise development and make real change within Donegal.
“I am calling on the Government to allocate additional funding for Donegal roads in the course of 2017 – priority has to be given to Donegal national and non-national roads in any future allocations and I have already been in touch with the department and intend to raise this matter with the Minister when the Dail resumes next week.”
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