The Government has cut funding for national road projects by €325 million for the coming year, despite the fact that various roads throughout the country were damaged during the ‘big freeze’ in early January.

Around €750 million of this year’s €1.1 billion budget will be allocated to local authorities, which is down some 30 percent on what they received in last year’s budget. However, Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, said all major urban roads currently under construction will still be completed by the end of the year.

At present, roughly 319km of road is currently under construction, with 300km set for completion by the end of the year. Although contracts for three new roads in Dublin, Wicklow and Galway are set to be signed soon, an NRA Spokesman said it is unlikely that construction for these projects will begin before year end. The proposed roads include a 2km extension of the N7 near Newlands Cross in Dublin, upgrading of the N11 near Arklow in Wicklow and further works on the N17 and M18 near Tuam, Co. Galway. Galway County Council has been allocated the largest share of funds in this year’s budget, receiving €179 million to improve and maintain its local roads, which is down over €20 million on what it received last year. Cork City Council has been allocated just over €750,000 to maintain its local road network for 2010, while Limerick City Council gets €378,900.

Despite the significant cutbacks for this year’s road network upkeep, Minister Dempsey remained optimistic for the year ahead. He was keen to point out that roads such as the N6 Galway to Ballinasloe, N8 from Fermoy to Mitchelstown and N25 Waterford city bypass have all opened ahead of schedule, commenting, “The significant expansion and development of the roads networks has benefited everyone in the State. It has been a major factor in underpinning the sustained programme of national economic recovery.”