O Caoláin presses for big increase in roads funding
Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín O Caoláin, as a member of the Joint
Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Local Government, this week
engaged directly with senior Department of Environment and Local
Government officials on the failure so far of central government to
provide necessary funding to address the deplorable state of the
county roads in his Cavan/Monaghan constituency.
Deputy O Caoláin with other TDs and Senators met with Niall Callan,
Assistant Secretary of the Department (Roads Division), Peter McEvoy,
Principal Officer and Aeneas Langford, Principal Advisor, during the
course of a meeting with Department and National Roads Authority
officials on Tuesday evening. The Cavan/Monaghan TD pressed for a
significant increase in the allocation of monies for the County and
Regional roads network in both Counties Monaghan and Cavan.
The Sinn Féin TD challenged the Assistant Secretary's contention that
the current 10-year Restoration Programme (1996-2005), now in its
fourth year, was on target to deliver 100% surface restoration and
road reconstruction across the State for all roads identified in the
Road Pavement Condition Study of all non-national roads commissioned
by the Department.
Deputy O Caoláin said areas of high neglect such as the border
counties of Cavan and Monaghan have not had their dire situation
reflected in funding to date.
In a direct appeal to the Department officials in advance of next
Monday's expected announcement by Minister for the Environment and
Local Government Noel Dempsey TD of the 1999 Roads Allocations for
County and Regional Roads, Deputy O Caoláin appealed for a
significant increase to both Counties Cavan and Monaghan in order
that the current projected road plan can be brought forward in all
areas, giving much needed relief to the beleaguered communities who
continue to suffer from the neglect of decades.
In his continuing efforts to press the case for Counties Monaghan and
Cavan Deputy O Caoláin has sought a direct meeting with Minister
Dempsey in advance of Monday's anticipated announcement.
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