Clare roads to benefit from 2m euro allocation

Clare Fine Gael Senator Tony Mulcahy has received confirmation from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, that Clare County Council has been allocated €1,988,481 towards the maintenance and management of its National Road network during 2014.

The funding scheme, which is administered by the National Roads Authority, is separate to the allocations made for regional and local roads.

Senator Mulcahy said the National Roads allocation covers a range of maintenance and important projects across the County during the year. He added that Clare County Council will receive full details of its allocation for 2014 in the coming days.

He continued: “Given the reductions in the roads budgets in recent years, the focus of this funding is on the maintenance and upkeep of existing roads with very few new projects being brought through the planning process or into construction. The allocation to County Clare also includes some provisions for remedial works and traffic calming measures which are important components in the development of the local road infrastructure.”

Senator Mulcahy noted that this year’s funding allocation is more than €350,000 greater than the allocation received for 2013.

€1.23 million of the €1,988,481 allocated to Clare County Council is being targeted at improvement works across the county during 2014. The works include a €600,000 upgrade of the surface of the N67 north of Doonbeg, a €120,000 allocation towards pavement and minor works at Blakes Corner in Ennistymon, and €500,000 for bridge rehabilitation works around the county.

An additional €668,481 is being allocated for maintenance works around the County, including €155,145 and €53,935 for route lighting on National Primary and National Secondary routes respectively. Meanwhile, €277,401 euro and €155,000 euro is being allocated to ordinary and winter maintenance projects along National Secondary routes respctively. A further €24,000 euro is going towards the Local Authority Support (Maintenance) 2014 CL and Local Authority Support (Winter Maintenance) 2014 CL schemes.