‘Not our fault’ – Council defends delay in spending Louth’s €500k bus stop fund

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

Louth County Council has defended delays in drawing down a half million euro national Bus Stop Enhancement fund, saying “it’s not our fault.”

The fund for new bus stops across Louth wasn’t utilised by the local authority in 2025 as design specifications were not made available from the National Transport Authority (NTA), a meeting of Ardee councillors heard.

“We were held up badly. But this year we are hoping to do a number of bus stops in the area,” said Mark Johnson, Senior Engineer, Louth County Council.

“It is good to go this year, we have the designs and the specifications. We couldn’t do anything last year due to the NTA delays, it’s not our fault.”

The issue arose as the proposed Louth County Council 2026 Roadworks programme was presented to the Ardee Municipal meeting.

Mr. Johnston explained that the council usually get up to an 8pc increase in funding year–on –year.

A €2.5million resurfacing programme is set to to take place along the N52 from Ardee to Cookstown, on both the northbound and sound lanes, which the council will hope to get underway in the coming weeks.

A €1.2 million allocation is expected for upgrades on the Ardee to Kells Road, a one kilometre stretch of the most degraded parts of the road.

The meeting heard the long-awaited Castle Street junction works are also expected to get underway in 2026, once the €90,000 needed has been allocated.

The roads projects will go out to tender, councillors were told, which could result in greater or lesser costs for individual road programmes.

The council confirmed over €100,000 will be invested in repainting road markings around the county.

A €340,000 Bridge Rehabilitation Project was also included in the report, which will include repairs and upgrades to 15 bridge structures in Louth.

Councillors heard changes to speed limits in Louth also feature in the roadworks programme. This will result in new 30kmh zones in some urban areas including Ardee.

Cllr. Pearse McGeough welcomed the €90,000 allocation for Castle Street, a €59,400 scheme in Annagassan and €120,000 for Daly’s Cross.

Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Dolores Minogue queried if funding is available for the Charleville greenway.

The meeting heard that the TII had visited the Ardee area and inspected the greenway along the old railway line. Louth County Council has asked for funding to resurface the greenway.

The programme was proposed by Cllr. Jim Tenanty and seconded by Cllr. Bernie Conlon.