Potholes To Be Here For Awhile

Cobh Town Councillor John Mulvihill jnr has insisted the refusal of Transport Minister Noel Dempsey to allocate the 2010 funding to Local Authorities for the repair and upgrade of regional and non-national roads is causing major problems in the east Cork area.

Minister Dempsey has already announced the allocation for national roads, so there is really no excuse for his refusal to allocate the 2010 funding to Local Authorities for the repair and upgrade of regional and non-national roads.

The treacherous East cork motorists faced on our nonnational roads in the town of Cobh, Midleton, Youghal and across the villages of east cork added to that the near collapse of national transport services and infrastructure during the recent snow and flooding extreme weather conditions was an appalling debacle that caused grave difficulties for motorists, commuters and pedestrians. The near shutdown of the transport system also cost the Irish economy millions of euro at a time when we could least afford it.

In the Dail last week, Minister Dempsey told Labour Transport Spokesperson Tommy Broughan that he had finally agreed to review the procedures in place for transport and weather emergencies in the light of the transport crisis during the recent Big Freeze. That is to be welcomed, but any review will be meaningless unless councils are in a position to repair the immense damage that was done to local roads.

It is extremely disappointing that the Minister still refuses to indicate what level of funding will be allocated to Local Authorities for the 2010 repair, upgrade and maintenance budget for regional and local roads. Many
Local Authorities are faced with a huge repair bill for roads that are now exceptionally dangerous.

In conclusion Cllr Mulvihill stated it is completely unacceptable that Minister Dempsey and his colleagues continue to leave the Local Authorities in limbo and refuse to announce the 2010 road repair allocation.