Councils cut fund for roads upkeep

Added: 07-03-2013

New figures show substantial variations in contributions from local authorities in the North West compared to other parts of the country for the upkeep of local and regional roads.

Contributions from county councils are at an all-time low in some parts, with many preferring to spend road tax receipts on other areas.

According to the Irish Times, Donegal contributed 16 per cent of its funding towards the maintenance of roads however Sligo allocated just 9 per cent of its funding for the upkeep of the county's roads.

Under a complicated system of funding the Department of Transport allocates money from motor tax receipts to each local authority, at least one third of which is ring-fenced as the "State grant" for the upkeep and maintenance of local roads.

Local authorities then add to the State grant from the remaining two-thirds of its road taxes allocation, or from other sources of funding such as parking charges, or subsidies from the Department of the Environment.