A Monaghan Senator hopes that "wisdom will prevail" when it comes to additional funding for the Castleblayney to Ardee road. Fianna Fail's Robbie Gallagher raised the issue in the Seanad calling on Minister Eamon Ryan to engage in a debate. Senator Gallagher says there is a great deal of frustration and anger in the community, particularly among those who live along the Castleblayney to Ardee route.
He highlighted how government allocated €600 million of taxpayers money to the upgrade of the A5. Although Senator Gallagher described the A5 funding allocation as warranted, he cannot understand how the Ardee to Castleblayney route has been ignored when all it takes is funding of €900,000 to complete phase 3 of the design process. Speaking to Northern Sound, Senator Gallagher called on action to be taken urgently highlighting that 18 people have already lost their lives on that stretch of road since 2013.
"Government who have allocated €600 million North of the border, there's no problem but we do have a problem if it's at the expense of the Castleblayney to Ardee road where unfortunately there's been 18 fatal collisions since 2013. It's crying out for invest and I sincerely hope that wisdom will prevail in the department of transport."
