Declan Thornton, Driver; Liam Conneally, Chief Executive; Noel Divilly, Machinery Yard Supervisor; and Uinsinn Finn, Director of Services, Galway County Council, pictured with the five new trucks.
GALWAY County Council has expanded its vehicle fleet to support road maintenance across its five Municipal Districts and to boost its capacity to treat the county’s national secondary and regional roads during the winter months.
Three new 26-tonne Renault tipper trucks at a total cost of €600,000 have been added to the Council’s fleet. Supplied by Dublin-based Setanta Vehicle Sales North Ltd., the vehicles will assist Municipal District Offices in delivering the annual roads programme.
In addition, funding of just over €500,000 from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has enabled the purchase of two permanently mounted salt spreaders with brine-spreading capability. These vehicles form a key part of the Galway County Council’s Winter Service fleet, helping to keep strategic routes open during severe cold weather.
Last winter, more than 1,300 kilometres of the Galway road network were treated, with over 8,000 tonnes of salt spread as part of winter operations.
Cllr David Collins (FG), Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council maintained that the investment will have a direct impact on safety and service delivery. “This investment in modern, high-capacity vehicles means our outdoor crews are better equipped than ever to maintain roads, respond quickly to weather events, and keep people moving safely. It is a very tangible improvement in the way we serve communities across County Galway”.
Uinsinn Finn, Director of Services, Galway County Council, said the investment reflects the ongoing need to modernise and upgrade the fleet. “Our teams work in all conditions to keep the road network safe and operational. Having the right, modern equipment is essential if we are to maximise their ability to do the job effectively. These new trucks will not only improve efficiency in day-to-day roadworks but also allow us to treat more routes, more quickly, during winter weather events. The support from TII has been crucial in enabling us to make this upgrade”.
