Local FG concerns raised over potential Green impact on road projects

Two Fine Gael members of Mayo County Council have raised concerns about Green Party policies and how they may impact road projects in the county.

Councillors Neil Cruise and Jarlath Munnelly have written to the Fine Gael negotiating team who are engaged in government formation talks asking specifically for the N59 Ballina orbital road and the next phase of the N26 between Foxford and Swinford to be included in any plan drawn up.

Said Councillor Munnelly: “Having read the Green Party election manifesto, I am deeply concerned that they will not invest in badly-needed road infrastructure in Mayo. The Green Party want to shift spending to public transport - which is a very good idea on the east coast of Ireland, where they already have a decent road network - but in Mayo, where there has not been sufficient investment in our road network, I am concerned that with Green Party policies there never will be."

Councillor Cruise added: “After a very lengthy planning process, the badly-needed section at Cloongullane Bridge on the N26 is ready to start construction work. In 2020, after years of being ignored, the Fine Gael government allocated funding to start work on planning an urgently-needed orbital road around Ballina town. These projects were needed years ago but I am afraid that these projects will be dropped to appease the ideology of the Green Party.”

Councillor Munnelly said that in their election manifesto, the Green Party outlined that they will re-draw the existing National Development Plan and prioritise public transport spending over road spending at a ratio of 2:1 – which includes maintenance of existing roads.

“The impact of this will certainly mean that two critical roads that north Mayo needs will not be built,” stated the Ballina Municipal District councillor, who pointed out that in the recently adopted Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the northern and western Region of the country, the N26 and N58 roads are listed as priority road projects for the region.

“The 2:1 ratio favouring public transport is very bad news for Mayo. Yes, Mayo needs investment in public transport too, particularly so in and around our larger towns, but this cannot happen at the expense of the basic infrastructure that particularly north Mayo never received.

“In addition, I managed to ensure that the N26 and N58 were identified as priority road projects in the recently adopted Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the northern and western region of Ireland. The programme for government needs to reflect this.”

Foxford-based Councillor Cruise of Claremorris Municipal District (which incorporates the Swinford electoral area) concluded: “We are seeking specific answers on these projects from the Fine Gael negotiating team. If there isn’t a commitment from all groups involved in these talks to ensuring that these road projects are included in a new programme for government, then this will not be a good deal for Mayo.”

*Pictured above, Councillor Neil Cruise (left) and Councillor Jarlath Munnelly (right) have raised concerns over the impact Green Party policies might have on local road projects.