Dempsey promises the pothole problem is over

The State's "massive problem with potholes" is almost over , the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, said yesterday.

Announcing what he claimed was a record level of funding of €438.46 million (£345 million) in State grants for local authority road improvements, the Minister told a gathering of county managers and engineers in Enfield, Co Meath, that their annual grant had doubled over the past five years.

The grant are to be augmented by local authorities' own resources of €140 million, bringing the total investment in non-national roads this year to more than €578 million.

"I can't say every crooked bend has been taken out, but the massive problem with potholes and drainage on county roads is almost over," said Mr Dempsey.

The investment grant, which amounts to €4,380 for every kilometre on non-national roads includes grants of :

More than €221 million for the roads restoration programme.

€75 million on projects co-financed by the EU.

€50 million on non-national road schemes designed to facilitate housing development.

€7.5 million for Dublin traffic management.

€1.75 million for the redevelopment of Ballymun Main Street.

The National Development Plan envisages spending of €2,430 million in the period 2000 to 2006, of which State grants are expected to be €1,040 million. However, the Minister maintained yesterday that the actual expenditure would be at least €1,184 million.

The non-national road grants which were yesterday notified to county councils include, in euros:

Carlow, 3,881,900; Cavan, 14,469,000; Clare, 15,319,450; Cork, 26,871,779; Donegal, 25,173,703; Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, 12,578,000; Fingal, 9,916, 076; Galway, 23,168,277; Kerry, 16,369,149; Kildare, 21,078,509; Kilkenny, 10,521,000; Laois, 7,734,500; Leitrim, 9,068,500; Limerick, 14,458,600; Longford, 6,826,722; Louth 6,047,900; Mayo 18,841,350; Meath, 19,637,261; Monaghan, 13,005,460; Tipperary (N), 8,915,080; Tipperary (S), 9,489,428; Offaly, 7,467,000; Roscommon, 12,552,000; Sligo, 8,961,900; South Dublin, 12,143,177; Waterford, 9,166,894; Westmeath, 7,415,000; Wexford, 11,861,252; Wicklow, 8,782,869;

Grants to city councils include: Cork, 5,747,322; Dublin, 19,836,758; Galway, 2,682,000; Limerick, 3,996,182; Waterford 4,619,482;

Grants to town councils include: Arklow, 240,000; Athlone, 488,000; Athy, 240,000; Ballina, 240,000; Ballinasloe, 240,000; Birr, 240,000; Bray, 522,000; Buncrana, 240,000; Carlow, 240,000; Carrick-on-Suir, 240,000; Castlebar, 540,000; Cavan, 240,000; Cobh, 240,000; Dundalk, 552,000; Dungarvan, 240,000; Ennis, 488,000; Enniscorthy, 240,000; Fermoy, 240,000; Killarney, 390,000; Letterkenny, 415,000; Listowel, 232,500; Longford, 240,000; Mallow, 240,000; Midleton, 240,000; Monaghan, 240,000; Naas, 240,000; Navan, 240,000; Nenagh, 240,000; New Ross, 240,000; Thurles, 240,000; Tipperary, 240,000; Tralee, 755,000; Trim, 240,000; Tullamore, 240,000; Westport, 240,000; Wicklow, 240,000.

In addition the borough councils receive: Clonmel, 488,000; Drogheda, 548,670; Kilkenny, 505,000; Sligo, 1,065,000; Wexford, 488,000.