The road maintenance budget allocated to Comharchumann Árainn Mhór to undertake road maintenance works, was withdrawn in 2009 when Donegal County Council decided that staff of Donegal Co Co would in future, undertake the road maintenance works on the island. This arrangement has been unsatisfactory as there has been limited maintenance works completed in recent years. There is no formal contract of work between Donegal Co Co and an comharchumann.
Employees of Donegal Co Co did not come to the island during the recent freeze when comharchumann staff and other volunteers undertook the gritting of the roads.
An comharchumann has once again, expressed dissatisfaction with the current arrangements to County Councillors and staff of Donegal Co Co & has requested that a budget for road maintenance be allocated to an comharchumann.
A list of all roads in need of maintenance works has this week, been submitted to the roads engineer.
General Election:
An comharchumann was contacted by representatives of various political parties during the very cold weather about poor road conditions. It as put to them that in the absence of a budget or any formal agreement, an comharchumann cannot undertake council works.
The island will be visited by general election candidates in the run up to the election. This will provide householders who have concerns regarding road maintenance & conditions to make them known to visiting candidates.