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This in effect means that this year urgently needed work on the route will receive only
35% of the funds allocated in 2007. This caleulation does flot take into account the erosion of
funds due to inflation, currently running at about 4%
Angry Connemara members of Galway County Council have called for a meeting to take place as soon as
possible in Maam Cross, to which members of the Oireachtas (TDs and Senators) and officials from the
NRA are to be invited. Cllr Seán Ó Tuairise, Chairman of the Connemara group, told his fellow
councillors that he has had a favourable response from those Oireachtas members he has contacted,
and it is hoped a meeting will beld early in March. When the 2008 NRA funding was announced Chief
Executive Officer of the NRA, Fred Barry, said:
"In 2007, the National Roads Authority completed all projeets on average approximately 6 months ahead of
schedule." Asked by Cllr Seosamh Ó Cuaig what his opinion was of the current state of the N59, Mr Barry responded, "Its not good."
Announcing the 2008 programme, Transport Minister Mr. Noel Dempsey, T.D. said: "This investment
demonstrates Government's cantinued commitment ta upgrade the State's national road
infrastructure. The overall allocation represents an average investment af €140 million per
month in Ireland's national roads.
"This Government is committed to progressing projects that
will enhance quality of life for people, connect communities and underpin aur prosperity. The
funding allocated for 2008 will allow for more new and better roads that will help roadusers go
about their daily lives in a more efficient way. Better roads also facilitate greater
competitiveness. Business can do business in a more effective way".
Cllr. Ó Cuaig said
such words sound rather hollow now, in the light of Connemara's treatment at the hands of the NRA.
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There is unanimity among Connemara Councillors in their anger at the way the area has
been treated under the 2008 NRA programme. All members of the Council have reacted bitterly, with
Fianna Fáil's Josie Conneely launching a staunch attack on the Govemment over the issue. Clir.
Connie Ní Fhatharta, FF, who is a Board member of the National Roads Authority, will attend the
meeting in Maam Cross, and her contribution to that meeting will be greatly anticipated.
When announcing the 2008 Programme, Minister Dempsey said, "The projeets announced today are
built to various scales and are located throughout all regions. What is common to all of these
projeets, however, is that they make for safer roads. As Transport Minister, road safety is of
paramount importance to me and better quality roads make for easier, safer, road joumeys in less
built-up traffic."
Clir Seosamh Ó Cuaig said it was disgraceful that the N58 work
was now to be "to ail intents and purposes abandoned, with more than 25% of the funds allocated
towards making the road easier and safer' being diverted to the reconstruction of a 180 year-old
bridge -the upgrading of which should have already been of urgent concern to the NRA.
"How long did they expect Capt. Nimmo's bridge at Leenane, constructed in the 1820's, to last
anyway? It was already well beyond its sell-by date."
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