Rising costs forces council to cut key programme by 30%
Cllr Chris Maxwell described the cuts as "another attack on rural Ireland".
Councillors in Westport-Belmullet Municipal District have expressed dismay after being advised that the roads programme for the district is to be cut by at least 30% due to rising costs.
At the meeting of the forum on Monday last, Area Engineer Heather Gibbons told members: “The roadworks programme has commenced but prices have gone up by a minimum of 30% so unfortunately, we also have to cut the roads programme by at least 30% going into the summer. Those roads not completed will be priority in 2027. It is a scenario outside our control.”
The news was met with both opposition and resignation from councillors, as it was acknowledged the price rises are outside the control of the council, having been caused by the US/Israel conflict with Iran.
Cllr Chris Maxwell described the cut as “a disaster” and “another attack on rural Ireland”, saying the Government needs “to stand up to the plate and send money down to us”, to which Ms Gibbons rebutted: “We have already been in contact and were told by the Department [of Transport] that there will be no additional money for roads.”
Cllr Maxwell said the news “just adds to the frustration here in this room”, adding: “This leaves us as councillors having to go back to our communities - that are expecting roads to be done - to tell them that they won’t be done. It would drive you around the bend. I know the council’s hands are tied but Government needs to start sending more money to rural Ireland to sort this out. Never mind this 30% cut, it's 30% extra we need to get our roads up to proper standard.”
Cllr Gerry Coyle said: “It is shocking we are down 30% because we don’t get enough to begin with.”
Cllr Sean Carey said the news was “very disappointing” and that he hoped some funding will follow on from government “because roads still have to be done”, while Cllr Brendan Mulroy asked whether the cuts would see the council reverting to tarmacadam and chip surfacing on roads, with the area engineer offering assurances this would not happen.
- Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
