Ballina councillors rail against 'neglect' of North Mayo

Ballina and North Mayo are getting "second-fiddle treatment" from Mayo Co Council, according to local councillors.

The claim was made at last week's meeting of Ballina Municipal District when Fianna Fáil Cllr Michael Loftus said the treatment North Mayo was receiving from the council's roads department was "despicable and deplorable". Cllr Loftus' strident comments to council management were prompted by a written reply from the roads department to a question in relation to the R315 road at Castlehill, near Crossmolina. 

“That section of road is one of the worst in the whole county yet we are still here waiting and your reply indicates nothing will happen until 2027 at the earliest. That is not good enough. [The roads department] just don’t seem to be interested or care about what is going on, the damage being caused to cars when lorries or two cars meet. I'm not happy with that reply and want more pressure put on this."

Cllr Loftus added that local residents are concerned about damage to the R315 from the many lorries currently working on the Crossmolina Flood Relief Scheme.

Cllr Annie May Reape supported the assertion that North Mayo is being neglected.

“We put down notices of motion here to get things done, the story gets a headline, there’s a big kerfuffle about it and that’s the end of it. Nothing happens.

“Over the years, I have brought up one of the most dangerous streets in Ballina, which is at Emmet Street around the funeral home. It’s like Fifth Avenue there with young people crossing on their phones oblivious to traffic or rights of way. There is no proper signage or crossings. I was led to believe lights would be installed there as well as ramps, they were more or less agreed, but nothing has happened.

“Then we discussed having a meeting with [Transport Infrastructure Ireland] in relation to reversing [traffic flows on the] bridges because that is the biggest complaint we are receiving. At the Sligo Road and Cathedral, that is the most dangerous area because nobody knows who has the right of way. When are we going to meet with someone to discuss all of this and what action are we going to do because action is needed?

"So much needs to be done on Emmet Street. We get so much abuse about it. It was raised by [former] councillor Seamus Weir years ago but here we are, no further on. Yet we can change things for two days when Joe Biden comes to town but then it is back to the same old story. It’s frustrating. I think we're talking in a vacuum."

Cllr Reape added that the length of time it takes to get any job done is also unacceptable. 

“A new business on Barrett Street is ready to open. They bought the old warehouse there, it was an eyesore and they are doing their best to make it look good but now they have to defer the opening of their business to 2026 because there is no loading bay. That just gives a terrible reflection on us as a council, for something as small as putting in a loading bay.” 

An update on the Roadworks Programme, which was presented to members, revealed that road widening to the R315 at Castlehill will cost €250,000 and is currently unfunded. However, a €30,000 allocation from the roads budget was made in 2025.

Municipal district engineer Orla Bourke said she shared councillors' frustration about the issues around the two bridges in Ballina, including Emmet Street, adding that the gardaí have monitored speeds there in the past and those findings might have an impact. She said members could perhaps ask the Gardaí to patrol the bridges from time to time, but Cllr Reape replied that the "Gardaí will say they have no staff”.

Ms Bourke told Cllr Loftus that the roads design office is still working on the R315 project.

"I understand you are not happy with that but nothing can be done on the timescale.” 

Cllr Loftus countered: “That is too flippant an answer. This road is there for the last 100 years and contains the narrowest section of road in this county yet this is the answer I get.

"This is not being addressed or looked at, whereas if in The Neale or other areas they say a road is dangerous, something is done. But we are not getting anything done here and we have been looking for a long time."

Cllr Loftus also told management to “forget about referring to the Ballina Local Transport Plan because it is nothing but pending, it’s a waste of time".

Cathaoirleach Cllr Jarlath Munnelly said there was a need to have a workshop with roads engineers and council management to get a list of works "nailed down". This suggestion was supported by members, with Mr Turnbull agreeing to set a date.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.