Longford County Councillors have expressed concern at the slow pace of several regeneration projects in the county.
The March meeting of the local authority heard claims that several million euro in funding was waiting to be spent on 'shovel ready projects' but no work has yet started.
Last year Longford Councillors were told that several key projects in the county town, including a redevelopment of the Market Square area, would be getting underway in quarter one of this year.
However, the March meeting of the local authority heard frustrations expressed by several local representatives that no works have started, with Councillor Gerry Warnock unhappy at the absence of several projects in the council's monthly 'management report'.
He claimed he was losing his patience and the local authority was "losing the room" over delays to progress on the Camlin Quarter as well as the Camlin Spur and Longford Connected project.
Councillors Gary Murtagh and Mark Casey also expressed reservations about a "changing of the guard" in terms of staffing of the regeneration department as the meeting heard a new Director of regeneration was appointed and a team is being assembled
Councillor John Browne also criticised the term 'shovel ready' as nonsensical- claiming that no projects in the lower end of Longford town had even received planning permission and concerns over inflation affecting the costs of projects was also raised by Councillor Colm Murray
Director of Service John Brannigan admitted that the council didn't have €10million just sitting in a bank account waiting to be spent and business plans were required for any projects that get funding.
He confirmed that a contract has been signed for the Longford Connected project but they are waiting for assurances from the contractor on the project and materials but concerns over the cost of the Camlin Spur had been flagged following tender analysis and cost inflation was a worry for all projects.
