Inadequate Mayo footpath funding is leading to 'wasted money' in legal fees

Councillors in the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District have said Mayo Co Council’s funding for footpath repairs is inadequate and have called for additional funding streams.

Cllr Patsy O’Brien raised the matter at last week's municipal district meeting by calling on the local authority to replace footpaths in Kilmaine village adjacent to the GAA grounds.

“The path here needs a revamp, not a huge one but it is needed badly. We know how much the council has spent in legal fees over trips and falls and that is money wasted."

Council officials said that an application would be made to Transport Infrastructure Ireland next year regarding this path.

Cllr Michael Burke said that the Government needs to consider a once-off allocation for the upgrade of footpaths, while Cllr Alma Gallagher said the state of some footpaths is unfair, particularly on rate paying businesses.

“Rates have increased three-fold yet traders can’t even sweep the paths outside their stores, it’s all cobblestones and broken up. We need a mainstream fund for footpaths,” she said.

Director of Services Tom Gilligan agreed that it was important to have adequate footpaths to encourage Active Travel but urged spectators to GAA games in Kilmaine to not use the footpath as a car park, as "had been done recently".

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.