1. ROADS Services Training Group
LOCAL AUTHORITY ROADS CONFERENCE 2015
Reforms, Challenges and Safety
Treacys West County Hotel, Ennis, May 2015. 1

2. Reforms, Challenges and Safety
Roads Funding – A Local Authority Perspective
Barry Kehoe
Director of Services
Westmeath County Council

3. Profile of County Westmeath
Midland county, Population 86,000
Two large towns, Mullingar and Athlone and largely rural otherwise
Two Rail Lines – Dublin - Sligo and Dublin – Galway
Agriculture – Extensive Livestock, Some Dairying and cereals, Some Forestry
Extensive bogs in North Westmeath and along south east border

4. Profile of County Westmeath
Public Road Network:
National Primary (Motorway) 58km
National Primary (single cway) 37km
National Secondary 85km
Regional km
Local Roads ,829km
Rural Cul de Sac’s - >500 Number

5. Public Road Network Ireland National Roads 5,500km
Other Public Roads 91,210km
Population: 4.6m 47 persons / km
Scotland
Trunk Roads 3,300km
Other Public Roads 52,400km
Population: 5.3m 95 persons / km
England
Motorway / A Roads 7,100km
Other Public Roads 295,000km
Population: 53m 175 persons / km

6. Profile of County Westmeath
WCC Revenue Budget 2015
Expenditure €64.66m
Transportation €13.12m
Grants / Income €9.97m
LA Own Resources:
Local Road Mtce €1.77m
Regional Road Mtce €0.12m
Public Lighting €0.99m

7. County Westmeath Sources of Maintenance Funding 2015 NRA – €3.38m
DTTAS – €6.93m
Own Resources - €2.88m

8. County Westmeath Pressures on Transportation Budgets Lack of Capital
Expanding Network
Winter Maintenance
Gateway Scheme
Public Lighting

9. County Westmeath Economic Development
New schemes are required to trigger economic development
Front loading of Infrastructural investment required
Development Contribution Schemes are limited
Multiple land owners eg Cornamaddy, Athlone

10. Cornamaddy, Athlone Gateway Town Strategic Site
Requires a spine road, roundabout and a bridge
Overall cost €9.5m
Phase I – Roundabout and 190m of road
Cost €2.1m
Funded entirely by Athlone Town Council
LA expenditure will not be recouped until full area has been developed

14. County Westmeath Economic Development
There is a need for a national scheme that could be applied to projects that meet certain economic development criteria
Particularly important to assist in balanced regional development and to secure the orderly development of regional towns

15. Transportation Emerging Issues Abolition of Milk Quotas
Timber Transport
Emergence of larger and heavier HGV’s
Increased technical input to road maintenace
Expanding Urban Areas

17. Road Maintenance Effectiveness Prevention is better than cure
Manage HGV traffic eg HGV ban on selected routes

19. Road Maintenance Effectiveness and Efficiency
Prevention is better than cure
Maintain Drainage Infrastructure
Ensure that new estates are completed to the required standard before they are taken in charge

20. A Local Authority Perspective
Conclusions
Funding pressure will always be there
We need to demonstrate that we are achieving value for money
We need to be proactive in terms of preventing damage and deterioration
We need to continue to invest from our own resources
We need to prioritise maintenance
We must continue to support economic activity and further development

21. A Local Authority Perspective
Thank You