The Transport Infrastructure Ireland allocation for major Donegal roads this year has been cut by almost 50%, with money for maintainance down 15%
Leas Cheann Comhairle Pat the Cope Gallagher says only €10,595,000 has been allocated to cover all national Primary and secondary roads throughout the county and that would include allocations to construct new roads.
Deputy Gallagher says TII can do more, but needs the money to do so………..
List of allocations –
Item 1: TEN-T Route Improvement 2017 Allocation €1,000,000
This allocation will allow for continuing work of the Consulting Engineers appointed in 2016, namely a Joint Venture between Halcrow Barry and RPS (two of the largest Consulting Engineering Firms in the Country) on the planning and development of the following three major National Primary Road projects; The N15 Ballybofey/Stranorlar Bypass, N14 Letterkenny to Lifford route including the N14/N15/A5 Link, and the Letterkenny Relief Road (Bunnagee Link). This is a very significant commission for Donegal.
Item 2: N14/N15 to A5 Link 2017 Allocation €30,000
This allocation will allow for close-out of the statutory approvals procedures both in Donegal and in Northern Ireland after the statutory procedures for the A5 WTC in Northern Ireland have been completed.
Item 3: N14 Lifford to Junction R264 2017 Allocation €200,000
This allocation will allow for the completion of the pavement improvement scheme on this section, which is under construction and to which an extra €500,000 had been committed in 2016.
Item 4: HD28 NP Pavement Renewals 2017DL 2017 Allocation €215,000
This allocation allows for the completion of pavement renewal on a number of stretches of the National Primary Routes identified under the HD28 Programme.
Item 5: N15 Blackburn Bridge Realignment Scheme 2017 Allocation €250, 000
This allocation will allow for the close out of the construction contract for phase 1 of this project which was substantially completed in 2016.
Item 6: N56 Dungloe to Glenties 2017 Allocation €1,000,000
This allocation will allow for the continuation of land acquisition on this project, approx 75% of the land has already been acquired.
Item 7: N56 Mountcharles to Inver 2017 Allocation €200,000
This allocation will allow for the completion of the land acquisition for this scheme.
Item 8: N56 Boyoughter to Kilkenny 2017 Allocation €350,000
This allocation will allow for the close out of the construction contract for this phase of the N56 Dungloe to Glenties project which was substantially completed in 2016.
Item 9: N56 Coolboy Kilmacrennan Realignment 2017 Allocation €900,000
This allocation will allow for the continuation of land acquisition for this scheme, approx 50% of the land has been acquired.
Item 10: N56 Kilkenny – Letterilly 2017 Allocation €500,000
This allocation will allow for this next section of the N56 Dungloe to Glenties LVNS, a section measuring approx. 4.0 km, to proceed to tender and construction in 2017.
Item 11: N56 Kiltoy Roundabout 2017 Allocation €600,000
This allocation will allow for the completion of the construction contract on this project which commenced in October 2016. The 2016 allocation to this project was increased by €600,000 in 2016.
Item 12: N56 Mountcharles to Drumbeigh 2017 Allocation €300,000
This allocation will allow for this phase of the N56 Mountcharles to Inver Improvement Scheme, a section measuring approx. 2.5 km, to proceed to tender and construction in 2017.
Item 13: HD28 NS Pavement Renewals 2017 DL 2017 Allocation €320,000
This allocation allows for the completion of pavement renewal on a number of stretches of the National Secondary Route identified under the HD28 Programme.
Item 14: Donegal Bridge Strengthenings 2016 2017 Allocation €1,200,000
This allocation allows for the execution of the construction contract for the strengthening/ rehabilitation of various National Road Bridges in County Donegal.
Item 15: Local Authority Support (Improvement) 2017 Allocation €100,000
This allocation will allow for design works to be undertaken on National Road projects by the Road Design Office in Lifford including HD 15 and HD 17 safety schemes.
Item 16: NRO Support (Improvement) 2017 Allocation €2,218,000
This allocation allows for funding of the National Roads Office in Donegal Town in dealing with road design in Donegal and a wider Northwest and Border region.
Item 17: National Primary Maintenance 2017 Allocation €687,199
This allocation covers Route Lighting, Surface Dressing and General Maintenance (including Winter Maintenance).
Item 18 National Secondary Maintenance 2017 Allocation €451,208
Similar to the National Primary allocation this National Secondary allocation provides for Route Lighting, Surface Dressing and General Maintenance including Winter Maintenance.
Item 19: Local Authority Support (Maintenance) 2017 Allocation €64,000
This allocation allows for funding of Donegal Couty Council staff on maintenance work on National Roads.
Item 20: Local Authority Support (Winter Maintenance) 2017 Allocation €10,000
This allocation allows funding of the management of the winter maintenance programme on Donegal roads.
Pat the Cope’s Statement in full –
National Roads Allocation for Donegal a bitter disappointment – Pat the Cope.
Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher Leas-Cheann Comhairle has expressed severe criticism of the Government for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) 2017 National roads allocation for Donegal – this year we are seeing a reduced allocation with only €10,595,000 being allocated to cover all national Primary and secondary roads throughout the county and that would include allocations to construct new roads. The budget for major construction projects has been cut by 47% and the budget for planning and design of new projects cut by 15%. The maintenance budget for the upkeep and pavement of National primary and secondary roads is cut by 15% for 2017. In short no new projects, no new plans and just about enough to maintain the roads.
Pat the Cope while welcoming the allocation of €1 million euro for the continuation N56 Gweebarra to Glenties, he rounded on Government for failing to provide TII with sufficient funds to continue the works on the N56 Mountcharles to Inver, N56 Bluebanks to Coolboy or the N15 and N14 between Ballybofey to Lifford and Lifford to Letterkenny and the continuation of works at Cappry to Ballybofey to list but a few. The allocation for 2017 will be just sufficient to maintain the roads to avoid potholing and other routine maintenance but projects such as those listed above are on the road to nowhere with a complete failure to provide funding for them in the 2017 allocation. There was a genuine belief this year with increased revenue in the National Exchequer that increased roads grants would be allocated to Donegal – obviously the message hasn’t got to the Department of Transport or our voice been heard at Government.
Pat the Cope added the national roads allocation to Donegal is nothing short of a disgrace and I am calling on the Department of Transport and the Government to stand up for Donegal and provide us with an increase in funding in order that we can get some of our new road projects off the ground and improve the county infrastructure – so that future investment and job creation can be incentivised within the county. There is a huge need to invest in Donegal roads but allocations such as this one will no advance our infrastructure demands – and a great opportunity was missed by the Government to prioritise development and make real change within Donegal. I am calling on the Government to allocate additional funding for Donegal roads in the course of 2017 – priority has to be given to Donegal national and non-national roads in any future allocations and I have already been in touch with the department and intend to raise this matter with the Minister when the Dail resumes next week concluded Pat the Cope.
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