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By Sean Moriarty

Over half a million Euro has been allocated to road improvement and associated works in the Kilcummin area as part of the county’s Road Works Programme for 2020.

The funding was confirmed at a special meeting of Killarney Municipal District elected councillors and officials last Friday.
It is a victory of sorts for the residents of the area who have been campaigning for years to have road improvements done in their area.

Until March this year the County Council was holding off on carrying out road works in the area as it was waiting on Irish Water (IW) to compete a much-awaited sewage scheme in the area and officials were concerned that any new resurfacing works would be damaged during the pipe laying works.

The issue divided opinions in the Council chamber, some councillors were calling on the road works to be carried out for safety reasons but others wanted to hold off and wait until the sewage scheme was completed to avoid any unnecessary damage and subsequent repair bill to new road surfaces as “doing a road to dig it up again is not the way to do business”.

In March this year, Irish Water dropped a bombshell and announced it had decided to delay plans for the €2.3m sewerage scheme until 2022.

IW’s announcement sparked outrage at the March Council meeting and at the time the Chamber was unanimous in its decision to now press on with the works and counter-charge the water agency for any damage it will cause to the new road network.

On Friday, that threat took a step closer to reality after the Council approved large-scale spending in the area.
Local councillor Marie Moloney was one of those who wanted to hold off on repairing the roads until the sewage scheme was completed.

“We are adamant that Irish Water will have to reinstate the roads to the standard they got them in and Kerry County Council have said they will put that stipulation in any contract,” she told the Killarney Advertiser. “The funding is welcomed. The roads are in a dangerous condition and it is not safe for walkers and people are complaining about damage to cars.”

The Coolcorcoran road will get €210,000 while Kilcummin village itself has been allocated €189,726 including €80,000 for footpaths and a pedestrian crossing in the village.

Additionally, the Lawlor’s Cross to Finnegan’s Cross stretch has been allocated €171,500 for repairs and upgrades.

This allocation of funding does not include works at Finnegan’s Cross, the scene of a number of fatal accidents including an elderly husband and wife in January this year. Funding for this junction has been applied under a separate application, however damaged fencing at this location will be repaired in the current funding.

Money has also been released for the road from Coolick to Rossanean and €3,800 for drainage works at Knockinane East.