FG TDs meet Transport Minister to push for action on North Meath roads

Fine Gael Meath TDs last night (Wednesday) held a meeting with the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar TD, to push for action on the condition of the roads in North Meath. The meeting was attended by Deputies Regina Doherty, Helen McEntee, Ray Butler and Damien English.

It follows a meeting last week between the four Meath TDs, local Fine Gael councillors and members of the North Meath Action Group Committee, where the poor state of the roads was discussed.

At the meeting with Minister Varadkar, the TDs expressed in the strongest possible terms that action is needed now to improve the roads in North Meath. They also put forward a collective suggestion that a portion of the revenues raised from the sale of State assets should be used to fix the chronic problems with Meath roads.

Speaking after the meeting, Deputy Doherty said: ‘We had a constructive meeting with Minister Varadkar where we made it absolutely clear that the roads in North Meath need urgent attention. This is not something that can wait a couple of months. We need action now, for the sake of local residents and others who travel the roads every day’.

Deputy McEntee said: ‘Local people are all too familiar with the fact that the roads in North Meath are in a horrendous state. Huge potholes and drainage problems mean it is almost impossible to drive down roads in a number of areas. While Meath County Council was given some flexibility on roads spending a few months ago, extra funding is urgently needed’.

Deputy English said: ‘Minister Varadkar listened to our concerns and our suggestion that Meath should be given funding to deal with the roads from any money that is raised from the sale of State assets, such as the National Lottery licence. We need to take hold of this issue now, without delay. We also intend to keep working on this problem with our colleagues at council level’.

Deputy Butler concluded: ‘We made it very clear to Minister Varadkar that we can’t wait around for a solution to this problem. The condition of the roads is so bad in North Meath that it is very hard to comprehend unless you have actually travelled on them. It is unfair to expect local residents to put up with this any longer, and I hope extra funding can be found in the short-term to deal with this problem’.

ENDS