Decrease in Longford's regional and local roads budget

Longford's Department of Transport allocation for 2023 will see a reduction of over €60,000 on last years figures, despite a significant increase in the national spend.

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

A total of €626 million will be invested in local regional and local roads around the country this year, a significant increase on the €597 million spent last year.

Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan and Minister of State Jack Chambers announced details of a €626 million investment programme for 2023 for regional and local roads earlier today (Tuesday, February 14).

Minister Ryan said: “Our main priority in 2023 continues to be the protection and renewal of the existing regional and local road network because that is the one thing you don’t curtail. It makes more sense to protect and repair our roads quickly rather than letting them fall into more expensive disrepair.”

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.

Senator Micheál Carrigy welcomed Longford's allocation saying: “I am pleased to see such a significant amount of funding being invested for the protection and renewal of our existing regional and local road network. This funding will be utilised for a range of schemes from larger strategic road improvements to smaller scale road improvements, as well as critical bridge rehabilitation works.”

Senator Carrigy outlined how the 2023 allocation is an investment in the maintenance and strengthening of local routes: “This represents an increase in funding of €20m for road pavement and rehabilitation works. The funding package will allow approximately 3,100kms of regional and local roads to be maintained and 2,550kms to be strengthened,”

The Fine Gael political representative spoke of the specific focus in this years budget: “An important part of this allocation is the climate change adaptation grant, which was introduced for works on roads at risk due to the impact of climate change and severe weather events. Other features of this year’s investment programme include: Road pavement strengthening works; Drainage works; Preventative surface dressing work; and Safety improvement works.”

Senator Carrigy stressed the importance of the allocation: “The protection and upkeep of our road network is hugely important and protecting and repairing our roads quickly is infinitely preferable than allowing them fall into more expensive disrepair. I look forward to seeing Longford County Council utilising this funding to the maximum benefit for Longford’s road users and pedestrians.”