Fresh political row raging over new Mayo €241m. roadway
A FRESH political row has erupted over the new Mayo €241 million roadway between Castlebar and Westport.
It involves Mayo Green Party candidate Saoirse McHugh and the Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring.
In an interview in today's Irish Sun, Ms. McHugh outlined: "We all use roads and we all love shorter and safer journeys, so there’s no doubt that the transport budget should reflect this.
"In Mayo a new four-lane road from Turlough to Westport is to begin work this year at a cost to the taxpayer of a quarter of a billion euro, shortening the journey time to Westport by five to ten minutes.
"Many welcome the project but I believe the investment not only neglects the other roads around Mayo, many of which are in dire need of repair, but crucially neglects all the people who, for one reason or another, don’t drive.
"A Fine Gael-led carbon tax means fuel costs look set to rise. Ireland will begin to face huge EU fines this year for failing to meet climate targets.
"With this in mind surely our transport budget should create better options for public transport and cycling infrastructure.
"In rural Ireland bus routes have been cut, roads are unsafe to cycle and its difficult to live without a car.
"Upgrading the existing Westport road could shorten journey times and increase safety at a fraction of the cost instead of ploughing through unspoilt countryside and native woodland.
"This would free up millions to invest in regional roads, safe cycle routes and, crucially, public transport which helps to strengthen communities and make life in rural areas possible for the Irish people who don’t drive.
"Faster roads between large urban centres are not much use if our villages are empty anyway."
In response, Minister Ring pointed out: "Two of the largest towns in the western region, Westport and Castlebar, are in close proximity but are linked by a road which is notoriously unsafe and of poor quality.
"For years this road has been standing in the way of the two towns joining forces and becoming a real economic and employment hub for our region.
"The new road between Turlough and Westport is the single largest Government investment in the history of Mayo and it will have a transformative effect.
"We are all agreed on the need to attract people and employers into rural regions.
"Our population is due to grow by one million people by 2040 and we plan for 50 per cent of that growth to take place outside our five biggest cities.
"Our cities, including our capital, are creaking under the pressure.
"We have to attract people into our regions and we can only do that by providing the type of infrastructure people need to have a good quality of life.
"The Green Party can’t grasp this because they are completely disconnected from the reality of life in rural Ireland."