Council seeks extra funding to repair Tipperary's rain damaged rural roads

Tipperary County Council is urging the Department of Transport to give it extra funding to carry out repairs to rural roads across the county ravaged by months of bad weather.

The Council’s new Director of Roads Services Liam Brett agreed to write to the Department seeking additional funding for rain damaged roads at the local authority’s April meeting in response to appeals issued by multiple councillors.

Nenagh Fianna Fáil Cllr John Carroll was the first out of the blocks to urge the council to apply for more finance to deal with the growing number of roads damaged in the county due to rivers of water running along them.

Golden Fine Gael Cllr Michael Fitzgerald described the deteriorating state of rural roads as a “serious, serious” issue and their condition needed to be addressed.

He pointed out that last year €380,000 was allocated in Tipperary/Cahir/Cashel Municipal District to tackle the worst “red” category roads but this year only €80,000 has been allocated for repair of these roads

“It wouldn’t even do one road,” he complained.

The council must secure an increase in funding to repair these red category roads if nothing else,” he appealed.

Cashel FF Cllr Roger Kennedy estimated rain has fallen constantly since last July resulting in the water table reaching the top of the ground flooding fields and coming up close to the road surface, which is totally undermining their structures and causing potholes.

Black tarmac needed

As well as extra funding, he urged the Council to use black Tarmac when filling in potholes.

Council Cathaoirleach Ger Darcy added his voice to the calls for more money for road repairs. “I think it’s a terrible pity we are in this situation because a lot of progress has been made on these red roads. Now I think we have as many red roads as ever again.”

He pointed out that rural Ireland can’t function without good roads and they were approaching the time of year when there will be an increase in agricultural activity that will bring an increase in milk lorries and tillage machinery on them.

Tipperary Town Sinn Féin Cllr Annemarie Ryan queried Council roads officials about figures that indicate a €1m reduction in funding for winter roads maintenance.

It wasn’t extra funding they needed to look for, the funding was cut already and the needed to get it back to the level it was last year.

She also criticised the significant decrease in funding for the “red” category roads.

Mr Brett responded that he absolutely accepted this winter has been extremely difficult on the county’s network of roads due to the phenomenal volume of rain.

The improvement in the condition of roads the Council achieved in recent years has taken a “step back” due to the impact of the bad weather.

“I agree with writing to the Department to seek additional funding,” he added.

In relation to patching potholes, Mr Brett said the Council has one of the most modern fleets of road patching machines. When the bad weather ends these patchers will significantly improve the condition of the roads network.

Responding to Cllr Ryan’s concerns about a reduction in funding for roads maintenance, he clarified that the allocation the Council receives from the National Transport Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Department of Transport was broadly stable, year on year. Some funding allocations were up and some were down.