‘There is going to be an impact’ – Inflation fears mount over planned Limerick road works

AMID the ongoing fuel cost crisis and rising construction inflation, fears have been raised that road works projects in Limerick could be significantly impacted.

Councillors and council officials expressed concern at the April meeting of the Newcastle West Municipal District over how rising costs and persistent bad weather could affect the condition of the district’s roads.

During a discussion on the schedule of Municipal District works for the year, Senior Executive Engineer Ben Noonan said that “monies have been allocated for restoration improvement and restoration maintenance,” but warned that rising costs could still impact some planned projects.

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He added that the Municipal District secured additional funding from the Chamber following representations from councillors for patching works, including pothole repairs, as well as €95,000 from the general MD budget allocated to roads.

The works were welcomed by Cathaoirleach of the district, Michael Collins, who said there was a good “geographical” spread across the projects, commending engineers and describing the schedule as a “balancing act”.

Cllr Tom Ruddle echoed Cllr Collins’ comments, but raised concerns about funding levels compared to previous years, noting that “inflation, you know, has gone up a lot” in recent months.

Mr Noonan said the budget for works such as drainage has remained “very much the same” as last year, with an additional €100,000 allocated in the revenue budget.

However, he warned that “there is going to be an impact”, adding that his team “have received emails in the last week or so from suppliers that tar macadam rates, pipe rates, concrete rates — everything is increasing”.

He said there is “no doubt that we will have to review the extent of the works based on those inflationary rates”.

Councillor Francis Foley said “the roads have gone bad enough due to weather”, but added that the Municipal District has “always had a good record when it comes to the road network”.

Fine Gael councillor John Sheahan said that “inflation is catching us big time now in relation to getting works done”, adding that rising costs mean it “wouldn’t be long knocking a few kilometres off the list we have”.