Cllrs’ anger over scrapping of €4.3m scheme for Ratoath

The scrapping of plan for the €4.3 million Ratoath Cycle and Pedestrian scheme came under fire at a meeting of Meath County Council yesterday (Monday) amid claims the centre of the town is extremely dangerous.

Cllr Nick Killian said it was extremely disappointing that they had been told the scheme has been scrapped for the time being.

He had recently read that €50 million had been diverted from various council budgets around the country to fund overruns on a number of bigger projects, including the Adare Bypass and the Limerick Foynes roadway.

"We went through a complete planning process on this and Cllr Gillian Toole and I took a lot of flak about it and now suddenly it is gone - a €4.3 million project in the heart of one of the fastest growing villages in the county. I don't know how the Department could look you in the eye and say it is gone. It is totally unacceptable.

"We have just carried out a Walkability Study with Age Action and Ratoath is an absolute disgrace. The centre of the village is very dangerous. The government has let down the people of the village.

"I am calling on our Ministers and government TDs to make sure the funding is reinstated at least for 2025, if not this year."

Cllr Gillian Toole said she wouldn't like to think the Pathfinder Navan to Trim cycleway had anything to do with the scrapping of the Ratoath scheme.

The members were told that the council was making a strong case for additional funding for the project and was looking at the Metropolitan area to see if it the scheme could be funded from a different pathway.

They were also told the Navan to Trim Pathfinder project was always funded separately.