€1.2m may be sent back to Government as Council faces "challenge" to spend money

The Director of Roads with Mayo County Council has said it will be “extremely challenging” to spend an allocation of €1.2 million for a south Mayo road development as no contractor has yet been appointed for the works.

The seven-figure allocation for the upgrade of the R332 Kilmaine to Tuam road at Foxhall, which was the only allocation in the county under Strategic Regional and Local Roads, was announced in March of this year.

However, Director of Roads Tom Gilligan told a meeting of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District this morning there have been delays in the project and it is now unlikely that Mayo County Council will be able to spend the allocation of €1.2 million.

“No contractor has been appointed and is unlikely to be appointed before the last quarter of the year,” he said.

“We don’t get the road allocation until March and then we have processes and procedure to go through and there have been delays.”

“The reality is, there is no contractor in place until the last quarter and it will be extremely challenging to spend that money.”

Cllr Damien Ryan said the money has to be spent and as a public representative, he would accept no less.

“As public representatives, we won’t put up with that. I certainly want it spent and we need to be in a position to accept an allocation in 2026,” he said.

“Whatever has to happen to get the work underway, has to happen. I can’t tolerate this, the people can’t wait.”

“As a county councillor, I am not standing over a scenario where even one shilling is sent back to the Department.

Cllr Patsy O’Brien said if the money is not spent, they will be seen as councillors unable to spend their allocations and who have to send money back to the Department and may struggle to obtain further allocations for these works.

“We’re six months down the line and nothing has been done. We want the work done,” he said.