'Gateway' road in Mayo area will need 'a lot more funding'
Some €500,000 has been allocated for the project but councillors say millions will be needed.
A South Mayo councillor has said the financial allocation towards a road project in his area is not enough to make a "significant" difference.
Independent Cllr Patsy O’Brien said it was a disappointment that the proposed R332 Foxhall to Kilmaine project has only been allocated €500,000 in the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District roads programme. The total allocation for the district was €13.8m.
“It won’t go far because of the accommodation works needed along the road," he told a meeting of the municipal district. "We need a lot more and while I welcome the overall allocation, this is a disappointment.”
Fianna Fáil Cllr Damien Ryan said €500,000 towards any road project is significant but this project needs more.
“Work started here in the latter stages of 2023. In 2024, we need to look towards land acquisition and we need to see realignment. The road needs to be shovel-ready for a top-up of alignment works,” he said.
“This should be prioritised, this road is a gateway to south Mayo.”
Fine Gael Cllr Michael Burke said he would love it if the municipal district had more to spend on this project but the current allocation would at least get the project started.
“I would be optimistic that this type of money will get us going. The road is diabolic though, and we’d all love a few million more.”
