Almost half of money allocated to fix damaged roads not spent

ALMOST half of the money allocated to local authorities to fix roads damaged in last winter’s big freeze has not yet been spent.

With some experts predicting another severe cold snap during the current months, Fine Gael road safety spokesman Tom Hayes warned yesterday that time was running out for councils to make repairs before winter weather returns.

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey told Mr Hayes, in a written Dáil reply, he expects all of the €414 million in emergency road funding to be drawn down by the end of the year. However, figures from the department show many councils have not yet availed of any of the funding they were allocated.