Tipperary councillors press minister for upkeep fund for 'neglected' housing estate roads

Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District councillors are making a direct appeal to the Transport Minister to set up a dedicated fund for maintenance of roads in housing estates due to the difficulty they have getting these type of roads repaired in their communities.

They agreed to write to Minister Daire O’Brien calling on him to establish a “pot of money” for maintenance of roads serving housing estates at their latest monthly meeting in Carrick-on-Suir Town Hall.

Carrick-on-Suir Cllr Kieran Bourke complained there was no money for maintaining housing estate roads not just in his hometown but throughout the district from Killenaule to Ballingarry and Mullinahone.

“I think it’s a disgrace,” he declared.

He said roads in urban areas have been hugely neglected and he wanted the message to go out from the meeting that funding was needed for them.

He reminded Council management that a number of years ago 20% of the roads budgets for towns were diverted to maintenance of rural roads. He was now asking the Council to back the towns and allocate money for the upkeep of housing estates.

Labour Cllr Michael ‘Chicken’ Brennan highlighted serious problems with roads in St Patrick’s Place in Fethard, Church View and Castlequarter, Killenaule and in residential areas in Ballingarry, Mullinahone and Grangemockler. He said there were manhole covers above ground in one particular estate in Killenaule.

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District Cathaoirleach Cllr Mark Fitzgerald proposed sending the letter to the Minister requesting a dedicated fund for the maintenance of housing estate roads and this was unanimously agreed.

District Engineer Denis Power said he would speak to Council management to see if something could done for these roads. Their condition was as much a concern for him as the councillors, he stressed.