€200m to repair damaged roads

REPAIRING the damage to roads caused by the severe cold weather at the end of last year could cost up to €200 million.

Addressing the Oireachtas Environment, Heritage and Local Government committee as part of a delegation from the County and City managers Association, Waterford city manager Micheal Walsh, said that the “preliminary estimate” on road repairs due to the adverse weather was €200m and that the roads most damaged were being prioritised for repair.

Mr Walsh said 111,000 tonnes of salt had been used in road maintenance so far this winter. This compared to 133,000 tonnes in total for the 2009/10 winter period, and less than 50,000 tonnes per annum used in the 10 years prior to that.