Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys announces over €2 million in funding for upgrades to island roads in Donegal
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From: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
- Published on: 9 March 2022
- Last updated on: 9 March 2022
- Arannmore, Tory, Inisbofin and Gola island to benefit
- Funding part of new agreement between Department and Donegal Co Co
- Minister Humphreys says further Donegal island road projects to be considered in the future
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today announced funding of €2.09 million for upgrades to island roads in Donegal.
A total of 14 road projects are being funded on Arranmore, Tory, Inisbofin and Gola Island.
The announcement follows an agreement between the Department of Rural and Community Development in relation to the upgrades of various roads on Donegal islands.
To date, roads on the islands have suffered neglect because they were not under the remit of Donegal County Council and therefore did not qualify for certain funding streams.
As part of this agreement, Donegal County Council has agreed to take charge of the roads once the works are complete with 100 per cent of the costs being incurred by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
The projects themselves include resurfacing drainage and other ancillary works on various road projects across the islands.
Announcing the funding today, Minister Humphreys said:
“Today’s announcement represents a really good news story for the communities that live on our offshore islands in Donegal. There has been widespread engagement between my Department and Donegal County Council on the issue of certain road projects that are in need of investment. Up to this point, these roads were neglected because they were not under the remit of Donegal County Council. As part of this agreement, my Department will cover 100 per cent of the cost of the repairs, which, as part of these works, comes to €2.09 million. Donegal County Council has agreed to take charge of the roads themselves, once the works are carried out. I have no doubt the island communities will really welcome this agreement and indeed this investment and I’m glad to announce that the works themselves will begin immediately.”
Minister Humphreys added:
“Supporting our islands is a key commitment under ‘Our Rural Future’, the Government’s five year rural development policy. Today is further proof that we are delivering on that commitment. Only recently, I visited Arranmore and Gola and I heard first hand from residents of the need for increased investment in road projects. While this investment is substantial, I am confident that by adopting this approach into the future, further road projects will receive much-needed investment.”
The Minister thanked the officials from Donegal County Council and the public representatives on Donegal County Council for their co-operation with her Department, which enabled this outcome to be agreed.
ENDS
Note to editor
These roads are currently not in charge of the local authority but form part of the everyday road network for the island communities. As the roads were not under Donegal County Council’s remit they did not qualify for funding to date under the existing scheme for island works administered by the Department.
In order for the Department to be in a position to fund these works, Donegal County Council have adopted a policy to take these roads in charge once the upgrading works have been completed. The Department is providing 100% of the costs of these works.
Non-County Roads – Donegal