Frustration at lack of funding for LIS road projects in Mayo

COUNCILLORS and members of the public are frustrated with the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) in Mayo, which funds upgrades to non-public rural roads.

Lack of funding is the issue and when announcements are made at national level, councillors phones start hopping as applicants think they will get their road done.

The reality, however, is different and it was clearly spelt out at a Westport-Belmullet Municipal District meeting, which heard that funding needs to be quadrupled to try and tackle the backlog of roads waiting for works.

Members were told the funding received from central government does not meet the demand. And with no additional allocation coming this year, Councillor Paul McNamara said the message needs to go out that there is no funding available.

Councillor Johnny O'Malley expressed disappointment that not one road on his list was done this year, while Councillor Brendan Mulroy remarked that they all have lists 'the length of your arm'. People have waited and waited and older applications need to be sorted, he said.

LIS is a function of the roads department which had Councillor McNamara asking why are elected members involved in filling out forms for people. Councillors, he stressed, have no function with LIS.

He also highlighted the implications for people, citing a mortgage being declined as the person couldn't prove their road was in council ownership.

Senior engineer Heather Gibbons told members if there was more money from government, the council could do more roads. They are limited by the funding they receive.

It's frustrating, said Councillor Sean Carey, with the money allocated insufficient, and he asked they write to the department to quadruple the amount of funding the county receives.

“We need to deal with the backlog. I have a list as long as my arm and it is increasing all the time,” said Councillor Carey.

* Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme