Louth councillor says Minister needs to "Get Real" over roads maintenance budget

Sinn Féin Councillor Antóin Watters has called on the Minister for Transport to "Get real and reverse a 10% reduction detailed in the Transport Budget."

Reacting with dismay, Cllr Watters said: “In the last couple of weeks alone we have had two fatalities in Louth and across the state we have had 152 fatalities this year.

“I have been seeking traffic management measures throughout the Cooley peninsula and it is always down to budgetary constraints. 

"At present I am seeking to get a crash barrier installed at Mulatee, Carlingford where a house has sustained over €50,000 of damage following three separate road accidents just in the last six months, including one which was fatal. 

"Earlier this month, Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú raised the issue on my behalf with the Minister and was told that Louth County Council had received a budget of €174,000 for safety improvement works in 2023 and that any improvement or maintenance of regional and local roads is their responsibility. 

“Imagine taking €50,000 out of a budget of €174,000 for this essential crash barrier, where would that leave the rest of the county. And now we are facing a 10% reduction again." 

Cllr Watters acknowledged that speed and the lack of enforcement is a problem in North Louth and throughout the County  but advised the Minister “that some contributing factors to these accidents are poorly maintained road conditions.

"The Minister needs to get real and in light of recent accidents restore the 10% cut immediately and look at ways to increase the budget for road maintenance.”