Council Request Supplementary Funds For Repair Works Following Extreme Rainfall

Tipperary county council is to seek supplementary funding from the Dept.  of Transport in respect of repairs to roadways in the south of the county required following extreme rainfall on October 16^th.

It is thought the cost of the works may run to €500,000.

The matter was raised by Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath.

The TD accepted the rainfall was intense but said the situation was made worse by what he claimed was poor design choices made in the construction of the motorway and an ongoing lack of maintenance work by TII and Tipperary County Council on adjacent gullies, drains, streams and rivers.

Deputy Mattie McGrath claimed that those using the motorways were being put in danger with the level of water on the road surface and that staff such as fire service and council staff were also needlessly being put in danger.

Deputy McGrath also highlighted flood damage to homes and businesses in Thurles in the same incident.

Minister Dara Calleary responded for the Government – he reminded the TD that local authorities are advised to keep a contingency fund for such situations and also had the option to reprioritise works to enable emergency repairs to be completed.

Deputy McGrath pointed out that the finances were depleted in Tipperary given the stage in the year and the increase in costs due to inflation.

Minister Calleary confirmed that TCC has made initial contact on the matter and undertook to bring the information to the relevant Ministers in the Department of Transport.