Monaghan family in desperate plea over pothole-ridden road to allow hearse bring loved one home

Members from a recently bereaved Monaghan family broke down in a phone call to their local councillor as they pleaded for a pothole-ridden road to be patched up before a hearse carrying the remains of their loved one arrived home.

They were the sobering words used by local Senator Robbie Gallagher in the Seanad over the state of the Farney County’s deteriorating road network.

Approximately €17.05m was allocated to the county in February from an overall €658m financial programme announced by Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and Minister of State Jack Chambers.

Over €7.8m was apportioned to restoration improvements with over €2m being assigned to local council officials by way of a discretionary grant.

However, Mr Gallagher said the fact an individual from a locally bereaved family had to plead for a road to be treated before a hearse took the remains of their loved one home illustrated the gravity of the problem.

“If I were to stand here from now until 6 pm trying to explain to the Minister of State (Malcolm Noonan) how bad the situation with the roads is, I would probably undersell it,” he said.

“Local authorities and their crews are doing their best to patch up roads. That is only a sticking-plaster solution, however. Proper resurfacing work is required.”

Mr Gallagher also revealed how a local engineer had informed him how inflationary hikes had caused road drainage and resurfacing costs had spiralled from €81,000 per km to €186,000.

In response Mr Noonan said €658m was set aside by the Government in regional and local road grants in 2024 with approximately 90pc of those monies being directed towards maintenance and renewal works.

He said the level of funding provided nationwide demonstrated the weight Transport Minister Eamon Ryan placed on upholding the country’s regional and local road network.

Mr Noonan, however, revealed that all Exchequer funding for the regional and local road programme for 2024 had already been allocated, advising councils to liaise directly with their assigned departmental engineer to discuss any “unforeseen road deterioration” in their region.

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