Eighteen roads identified for inclusion in 2023 Local Improvement Scheme

Amenity roads to important community activities can be included in this year’s Local Improvement Scheme grants, up to a maximum of 25% and with a local contribution capped at €1,200.

Eighteen roads have been identified in Westmeath for inclusion under the scheme, but work on them is estimated to cost €1.42m, while the funds available are roughly €370,000.

Barry Kehoe, director of services, told councillors at the April monthly meeting of Westmeath County Council that 70 expressions of interest had been received and 49 applications were made under the scheme.

Following detailed assessment, 11 projects in the Municipal District of Athlone Moate, costing €617,000, and seven in the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad, costing €425,000, were approved.

Two of them are long bog roads that would cost €350,000 between them.

Mr Kehoe said those roads are eligible, but might be done in phases over a number of years.

The council have been notified of an allocation of €321,095 which, with the local contribution by the users of the roads, would come to roughly €370,000.

The council received a second allocation in 2022 and would hope to get one in 2023 as well.

In the meantime, the council will submit their list of priority projects and a reserve list of projects that they would do if they had more money.

“We will live in hope that we will get more money and we will do as many as we can,” Mr Kehoe told the meeting.

“It’s all wrong!” declared Cllr Paddy Hill. “It’s hard to tell people they won’t get funding when there are millions coming into the county for greenways, active walkways etc.”

POTHOLES

Cllr Hill bemoaned the fact that only seven of the 22 areas that applied in Mullingar Kinnegad were successful. He called for increased funding for people who are using roads “you couldn’t drive on because of the potholes”.

He was supported by Cllr Frank McDermott, who said people are waiting up to 20 years while their roads, their cars and their tractors are deteriorating.

He did not object to greenways or blueways, but he felt the scheme should be enhanced.

Cllr McDermott claimed the two bog roads should be done in stages over a number of years while retaining their priority status.

Cllr John Dolan applauded the council for the standard of work done on the roads, but was disappointed at the number that were ineligible.

Cllr Johnnie Penrose said “an awful lot of people will be disappointed, having gone to the trouble of making an application”. He suggested that the council look for alternative funding sources for the two bog roads.

Cllr Liam McDaniel was assured that schemes that are approved but not completed this year would stay on the list next year and that a new list would not be compiled until they were finished.

Cllr Denis Leonard urged the council to do “all you can to get as many schemes as possible over the line”.

Cllr Frankie Keena reported a road that was done in 2022, but there is “a snag” and it needs “revisiting”. He was advised to report the issue to the district engineer. “If there’s an issue, we need to hear about it,” Mr Kehoe said.

Cllr Keena and Cllr Tom Farrell called for a relaxation of the qualifying criteria for the scheme.

Cllr Farrell said more snags are being put in the way of applications. He asked for a list of reasons applicants were turned down and suggested that councillors make representations on their behalf.

Mr Kehoe thanked the members for their positive comments regarding the work that had been done.

He said the last priority and reserve lists had been completed and he was confident that the new ones would be completed by the middle to end of next year.

“We will carry over any we don’t get done this year and we won’t advertise again until they are done,” he said.

A road must be used by at least two farmers engaged in farming activity on the road to be eligible. Mr Kehoe said the council must apply the regulations rigidly because they are subject to audit and if they are not in compliance, they have to return money and their credibility is called into question.

He said he could do a report on why roads were ineligible, but no farmers using it was the most common reason.

Regarding the two bog roads, Mr Kehoe said they would be assessed and a decision taken on the best approach.