€200k funding for Longford's protracted N4 upgrade branded an ‘absolute disgrace’

Last week's Department of Transport announcement indicated the allocation for “preliminary work on the proposed upgrade of the N4 between Mullingar and Longford”.

Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Micheál Carrigy has spoken of the “absolute disgrace” if funding is not put in place.

“We are looking for balanced regional development therefore the people of Longford and the north west are entitled to the same service,” he said during Order of Business, “It seems we are putting the Climate Action Plan before the National Development Plan.”

The proposed N4 Mullingar to Longford (Rooskey) Road Scheme will upgrade 50km of the N4 National Primary Route between the N4 Dromod-Rooskey bypass and the N4 Mullingar bypass.

The scheme will bypass Newtownforbes, Longford, Edgeworthstown, Rathowen and Ballinalack.

Division among political representatives reared its head last year as concerns about the future of the project were expressed after the road project was left out of the government's Capital Plan.

Senator Carrigy said delaying the infrastructure project is costing lives.

“On the N4 section between Mullingar and Roosky, there have been 20 fatalities, 34 serious injuries and a further 218 accidents since 2008.

“The Government has prioritised balanced regional development as core to the economics of this country, with every region having the opportunity to benefit from that, but the entire northwest beyond Mullingar is not benefiting from it.”

Describing the budget for the project announced by the Department as “disgraceful and very short-sighted” Senator Carrigy castigated the delay, “This funding will give the preferred route option but will not bring it to the planning permission stage.
This will not give clarity to hundreds of farmers, landowners and householders who have since 2008 not known what to do with their property or land. This is not right. It is critical that the Department ensure that this route be prioritised in the next round of funding.”

Cllr Seamus Butler (FF) and Cllr Paraic Brady (FG) have raised the issue of the delays in the announcement of progress oo the N4 at the December and January meeting of the local authority.

Regional and Local roads

At the start of last week it was announced that Longford County Council will receive a reduction of over €60,000 on last year's regional and local roads budget, despite a significant increase in the national spend.

The Department's annual regional and local roads budget for the county in the year ahead is set at €9,770,900, down from last year's allotted €9,832,607.

Among the key spends in the Longford budget are: Restoration Improvement €4,860,000; Discretionary Grant €1,297,500; Restoration Maintenance €709,500; Specific Improvement Grants €525,000; Supplementary Restoration Maintenance €557,500; Bridge Rehabilitation €429,500; and Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience Works €307,500.

Those allocations cover climate change adaptation grants, introduced for works on roads at risk due to the impact of climate change and severe weather events.

Other features of the investment programme include: Road pavement strengthening works; Drainage works; Preventative surface dressing work; and Safety improvement works.

The maintenance of the road network has significant implications for the commercial stability of the county.

Orla Barry, one of the founders and fleet manager of Barry Express in Longford, said there are transport issues that need to be addressed.

“It's the byroads that are the main problem. There is simply not enough money being spent on them,” she told the Leader.

The Longford based transport company provides a nationwide collection and delivery service, bringing their vehicles off the main arteries of the country's roads networks.

Orla says transport is an important consideration for all businesses and needs to be adequately funded.

“The roads have improved over the years, but it's important there is investment to ensure rural and local roads are maintained to a good standard.”