€250,000 in funding allocated for works along busy Clare road

Clare County Council has confirmed that funding to the tune of €250,000 has been allocated to address works at Tullagower on the N68. 

This news comes following a Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr Rita McInerney at a recent meeting of the Council.

The motion requests: "That Clare County Council formally recognises the strategic importance of the N68 Ennis to Kilrush road and agrees that, given its critical role in regional connectivity, economic development and in particular the future transformation of the Moneypoint site, the N68 should be designated a strategic route by this local authority.

"Furthermore, that the Council commits to prioritising the N68 in all relevant infrastructure planning, funding applications, and strategic transport assessments, ensuring that future upgrades and investment are pursued with urgency and ambition to meet the needs of West Clare and the wider county."

In a written reply, Cyril Feeney, a Senior Engineer, explained that in the County Development Plan 2023-2029 under Section 11.2.9.1 of the Development Plan Objective, it makes specific reference to the N68 National Secondary route.

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According to Mr Feeney, under objective 11.11 of the plan, it confirms that it is an objective of Clare County Council to a) Safeguard the motorway, national roads and strategic regional inter-urban road connections between cities, settlements, ports and airports, and their associated road junctions, in line with national policy and under Section d) To advocate for and support improved road connectivity and, in particular, to advocate for an upgrade of the Ennis to Kilrush N68 National Secondary Route.

"The N68 is therefore clearly designated as a strategic route in conjunction with the other national routes and regional roads," he said. 

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) are the road and funding authority for the national route network, including the
N68 Ennis to Kilrush road.

At a recent meeting with TII, attended by both Members and Council officials, they outlined their commitment to increasing funding for the national secondary road network in County Clare. TII are also the ones responsible for the allocation of €250,000 to address works at Tullagower on the N68.

"We will continue to advocate for additional funding to safeguard and build upon this strategic route," Mr Feeney concluded.