Anger at east Mayo Active Travel funding exclusion
A total allocation of €3 million has been allocated for 27 Active Travel projects in county Mayo; however, one local councillor has expressed frustration that a large swathe of east Mayo has been omitted from the funding.
The funding, approved by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and awarded to Mayo County Council, will significantly enhance walking and cycling infrastructure in towns and villages countywide.
Some of the key projects and largest allocations include the Castlebar Orbital Route Travel Scheme (€275,000 allocation), the Ballina Creggs Road Active Travel scheme (€200,000) and the Westport Deerpark Active Travel Scheme (€100,000).
A number of Safe Routes to School (SRTS) projects were also funded under this allocation including schemes for Carn National School, Moygownagh (€200,000), Scoil Iosa NS, Ballina (€210,000) and Cong NS (€250,000).
However, Fine Gael councillor for the Claremorris Municipal District Alma Gallagher said she was deeply frustrated and disappointed over the ‘continued omission’ of an area she described as the ‘Black Triangle’ encompassing Ballyhaunis, Kiltimagh and Charlestown from receiving Active Travel funding.
In the Claremorris MD, funding was allocated for the Ballinrobe Urban Greenway and N60 Claremorris Cycle Scheme and for SRTS programmes for Cong NS, Claremorris Boys NS, Ballinrobe Community School and St Josephs NS, Ballinrobe, however, there was no allocation specific to Ballyhaunis or to any location in the Swinford MD.
She said these areas have the potential to become a ‘Golden Circle’ for tourism and local growth but are currently being held back by being so consistently overlooked.
“The situation is particularly concerning given the recent history of the area’s funding setbacks. Just two years ago more than €220,000 was de-committed from Ballyhaunis, exacerbating the already existing infrastructural challenges,” Cllr Gallagher said.
“These setbacks highlight a systemic failure to prioritize balanced regional development and to ensure that areas outside of the major urban centres are not left behind.”
She said balanced regional development needs to be reflected at local level and should extend beyond national policy.
“It is deeply frustrating to see such potential ignored while other areas receive significant funding. The imbalance in development is not just an issue for local residents but also for the broader goals of economic equality and sustainable growth,” she said.
“By side-lining towns like Ballyhaunis, Kiltimagh, and Charlestown, and their hinterlands, the authorities are sending a message that the needs of rural areas are less important than those of larger urban centres and the failure to invest is an ongoing injustice that denies communities the resources they need to thrive.”
