Midwest strategy plan costing €1.2m criticised

THE €1.2 MILLION costs relating to a land use and transportation plan for the midwest has come under fire.

The draft Mid-West Area Strategic Plan is being presented to local authorities in the region before an updated document is published.

A briefing document circulated to members of Clare County Council has confirmed the plan’s €1.2 million cost to the taxpayer over a four- to five-year period.

The document states that €600,000 was received from the Department of Transport with the overall cost to the county council over the four to five years at €184,000. The spend “should be viewed in the the context of its 20-year lifespan and . . . investment it is seeking to leverage”.

However, Cllr PJ Kelly (FF), a member of the county council and the midwest regional authority, said: “The plan is a total waste of money. There have been too many plans for the midwest . . . never implemented and I’m afraid this is going to be another one.”

Cllr Brian Meaney (Green) said: “It is a colossal amount of money to be spent on one plan.”