Mayo community anger over minister's 'farcical cuts' to active travel projects
An elected member of Mayo County Council has slammed Transport Minister Eamon Ryan's funding allocation for active travel in the Castlebar area as 'farcical'.
Fine Gael Councillor Donna Sheridan said the €468,500 allocation for the district is down from €995,410 in 2023 - "but this is not the worst part of the story."
She elaborated: "A sum of €220,000 of the €468,500 allocation was part of the €995,410 announced in 2023."
Councillor Sheridan continued: "Minister Ryan announced €695,800 in 2023 for seven projects.
"He has now sliced the funding completely for two projects and reduced the other five projects to €220,000 and re-announced them.
"He did so thinking we would all clap our hands and not notice.
"This is not a good news story, it’s a big cut. We all know how costs have increased but how are these projects to be completed with a reduction in funding of 68%? It's impossible.
"The only new project allocated to the district was €100,000 to be spent on consultants to tell us how to build a footpath.
"Two of the schemes, which were due to provide safer routes to school for students of Davitt College and Scoil Raifteiri, have been trimmed from €100,000 to €50,000.
"Funding of €30,000 for a new footpath on the Rathbawn Road has been completely erased as has a sum of €40,000 for a mobility hub for Market Square.
"A scheme for Brooklands in Castlebar was cut from €130,000 to €30,000 and I believe this project may not be viable any longer.
"Another active travel measure for Castlebar was reduced from €175,800 to €40,000."
Councillor Sheridan said Mayo County Council had also submitted a request for funding for a Active Travel Plan for Balla - "which would make sense given the active travel plan on the Castlebar road in Balla and the plans for a Pollavaddy to Balla active travel scheme."
"But no funding was allocated for a new plan which could link the schools and the train station with the current and planned schemes.
"Minster Ryan and the NTA did the same thing last year in Ballyhaunis when they pulled €170,000 smarter travel scheme.
"From what I can see the Minister announces funding, ties the council up in so much red tape to draw down the funding and then removes the funding or reduces the funding.
"Enough is enough. I am calling on Minister Ryan to restore and increase the funding for the Castlebar District for the seven projects announced last year and to stop announcing funds and then cutting funding to the disappointment of local communities and council officials who have spent time and resources developing plans," she added.