From Department of Rural and Community Development
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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.
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
| Island | Road | Length (m) | Cost (€) |
| Árainn Mhór | Ring Road, from local road L-9023 (Lighthouse Road) to local road L-3163 at Athphort, to include the provision of passing bays | 4770 | 550,000 |
| Árainn Mhór | Ring Road (Screig an tSeabhaic Link), from the end of the existing local road at Screig an tSeabhaic to the Lighthouse Road | 2270 | 263,000 |
| Árainn Mhór | Lighthouse Road from the end of local road L-9023, at the Ring Road junction, to the lighthouse, including surfacing of the existing parking area at the lighthouse, delineation of the lake shore and the existing parking area adjacent to the Beaver Island Monument, and the provision of passing bays | 2680 | 355,000 |
| Árainn Mhór | From the end of local road L-3163, near the helipad, to Rannagh Pier (Cé na Reannaí) | 190 | 22,000 |
| Árainn Mhór | Leadhb Reannach /An Baile Árd Road, from local road L-3163, near Athphort School, to local road L-9033 at Ballard | 1170 | 132,000 |
| Árainn Mhór | An Uillinn/An Baile Árd Road, from local road L-3163, at An Uillinn crossroads, to the Leadhb Reannach /An Baile Árd road described above | 810 | 85,000 |
| Árainn Mhór | Leadhb Reannach Link Road, connecting the Leadhb Reannach /An Baile Árd road to the An Uillinn/An Baile Árd road | 520 | 55,000 |
| Árainn Mhór | Continuation of the cemetery road to the new cemetery, including the turning area | 100 | 23,000 |
| Árainn Mhór | Road leading from local road L-3103, at Comharchumann Oileán Árainn Mhór, to a small cove at Carraig na Loinge (Na Clocha Corra), to include a turning area | 390 | 46,000 |
| Árainn Mhór | Road in the townland of Na Goirt Ghearra, leading from local road L-3123, at the top of Pinkie Hill, towards the telecommunication masts | 180 | 20,000 |
| Inis Bó Finne | Road leading from the old schoolhouse to the last dwelling adjacent to An Mullach Bán, to include surfacing of existing open area at top of slipway | 950 | 151,000 |
| Toraigh | Lighthouse Road, leading from local road L-9013 to the lighthouse, to include the provision of passing bays | 1520 | 228,000 |
| Gabhla | Road connecting two piers on Gabhla | 1100 | 150,000 |
| All | Signs and junction markings to all above | 10,000 | |
| Total | €2,090,000 |