Councillor warns that major Dundalk roadworks may not be completed for 15 years as funding cuts announced

A Louth councillor has warned that major roadwork projects may not be completed for 10 to 15 years due to funding cuts for Louth County Council. 

Green Party councillor for Dundalk South Marianne Butler told the January meeting of Louth County Council she was beyond disappointed to learn funding under the Active Travel Scheme had been cut. 

Councillors were told by council executives at the December meeting of the council that there was an indication this cut National Transport Authority (NTA) was coming. 

The NTA announced on Monday that Louth County Council would receive €4,500,000 in Active Travel funding, down from €6,000,000 in 2025.

The news has put planned works across the county into jeopardy, with Cllr Butler saying the works to the Dublin Road R132, Xerox to Greengates may be "looked at in maybe 10 to 15 years".

Cllr Butler said progress that has been made has "completely disappeared" and added she can't see when these "badly-needed changes will be completed". 

"You can't say it's going to happen this year, you can't say it's going to happen next year." 

"It's not enough and it's not good enough," she said. 

Cllr Butler said the NTA's allocation for 2026 of €800,000 will mean the Dundalk Pathfinder will not be completed in its entirety. 

"I suppose €800,000 is better than nothing and will get us started, but we've been living with that road for 20 years."

The Green Party councillor said the road in its current form is not needed as the motorway takes the bulk of Dublin to Belfast commuters. 

“The pathfinder, we were all so excited about it, try cross the road there, and that’s as an abled body person, if you have any kind of disability, if you're younger, if you’re older, try cross the road. It’s next to impossible,” she said. 

Cllr Butler said the council must continue to lobby both the Department of Transport as well as Minister Darragh O'Brien to "get that funding back". 

“We all know how bloody important Xerox to Greengates is. What is it getting this year? I have no doubt we’ll approve the planning for that in the next couple of months. And what do we have €30,000 for that project," she said.

She said both Dundalk and Drogheda pathfinders will be on a shelf "collecting dust". 

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Fianna Fáil councillor for Ardee John Sheridan said the funding would be better used to ensure certain projects get over the line. 

"There's 20 odd projects all getting €2,500, in terms of public money, get a job done, progress something to get it done."

Fine Gael councillor for Dundalk South Robert Nash said the funding announcement is disappointing and said money should be concentrated on certain areas. 

"Rather than fixing a road on the far side of town and then having no bus stop, or then having no traffic wardens. Concentrate on a certain area. If it is Xerox to Riverside, then that’s where we need to put the money.”

Cllr Nash said the funding isn't going to go very far before adding "I don't know where we go from here". 

Mayor of Drogheda, Cllr Michelle hall said she was really annoyed to learn of the €120,000 allocation for the Drogheda pathfinder. 

"What can we do with €120,000? And to me it seems to be ready to go and we can't go anywhere." 

Cllr Hall questioned if Louth County Council could reapply for additional funding later in the year to complete the projects. 

“We’ve only be given €120,000. If it’s ready to go, do we reapply during the year and say now it’s ready to go can you give us that €11 million that we need. I just don't understand their thinking behind it,” she said. 

The Labour councillor said as a result of the funding cut, the council cannot implement the national climate action plan, and as a result risks paying back billions to the EU in fines. 

"If the government do not give us the money for this how can we implement our plans. They're impeding us all the way,” she said. 

A full breakdown of the Active Travel Investment Grants can be found here.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.