The Minister for Transport has come under fire from Councillors in the Shannonside region over his stance on public road funding.
Minister Eamon Ryan told Shannonside FM News last week that the real focus for his department, when it comes to roads funding, is town bypass works.
The comments have been heavily criticised by local representatives including Longford Councillor Paraic Brady who last week accused the Minister of holding up the N4 Mullingar to Rooskey upgrade project.
The works to upgrade the road through Longford and Westmeath were shelved in 2009 due to the financial crisis, and work didn't start again until the last couple of years, with worries progress to date will be lost once again.
Councillor Brady is calling for the Minister to come to Longford and see the condition of road for himself:
"These comments are certainly very, very hurtful, they're a backwards step and I do believe that he needs to come down himself, and I would publicly invite the Minister to come down to Longford and meet with us as a council and drive the road from Mullingar back to Longford. We'll drive the road, or if he wants to cycle it, but the road is certainly not safe to cycle, and it's not safe to drive".
