Funding boost for Cavan roads

Cavan County Council's Department of Transport roads allocation for 2018 have been announced. The local and regional roads in Cavan are set for an increase from last year's €9,117,182 to €10,732,275.

This funding will target areas including safety improvement works throughout the county. The largest single project to receive funding is the Ballyjamesduff Main Street project which will be financed to the tune of €120,000.

Three projects will receive €20,000. They are the R212 Cullies Graveyard to Latt roundabout, R154 Killyfassy and the R188 Cavan Road into Cootehill. There will be 15 bridge rehabilitation projects under the scheme. The total allocation for work on the county's bridges is €323,500.

Virginia gets two allocations under the specific improvement grants heading. The R194 to Ballyjamesduff and the R178 to Bailieborough both get €20,000 each for works. The largest spend of the budget goes to restoration improvements which gets just over €6M, while discretionary improvement works has been allocated €2.12M.

Senator Joe O’Reilly said: “I was delighted to see Cavan receive €10,732,275 in funding for our local and regional roads. These roads are used by families every day and are essential for connecting people locally. This funding will used to maintain and improve local roads. It is essential that our infrastructure is capable of meeting the demands of our expanding economy.”

Minister for Transport Shane Ross said that the 2018 grant allocations include initiatives in the area of Community Involvement Schemes and Drainage.

“Local authorities were able to use general grants for such schemes in recent years, this year ring-fenced funding is being provided. These are two areas where I have very much wanted to take action and I am very glad to be able to do so this year. There needs to be an increased focus on measures to improve the resilience of the road network in the face of climate change.”

There will be a full report on the allocation in this weeks Anglo Celt.