Frustration has arisen again over the lack of maintenance money for greenway trails in Donegal.
Many parts of the multi-million greenway network have been completed across the county through various funding streams, but no funding has been provided for their upkeep.
The issue was raised at today’s meeting of the Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District by Councillor Martin Scanlon.
Cllr Scanlon said: “We have a greenway in Castlefinn that cost over €3million and now we have no funding to even sweep it.
“We should be getting on to the TII to say there is no point in building greenways if there is no money to maintain them.”
Senior executive roads engineer, Claire McGeever confirmed that the issue has been raised with the TII by the executive and also forms part of the request by the delegation to the TII in December.
Cllr Scanlon also called on Donegal County Council to ask for funding to be prioritised for the resurfacing of the N15 and N13 through Ballybofey, Stranorlar, Killygordon and Castlefinn as a matter of urgency, considering the poor condition of the national primary roads through these towns.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has allocated €591,000 for ‘patching’ repair work on the N15.
Cllr Scanlon said the funding was welcome, while Councillor Patrick McGowan said that the money “will probably annoy more people when they see a couple of patches here and there”.
“We need these roads on a proper national primary roads programme,” said Cllr McGowan.
Councillors heard that the overall upgrade of the N15 will cost up to €5.2million.
