COMPENSATION pay-outs to motorists whose vehicles sustained damage from potholes has more than doubled over the past two years. In 2018 compensation sat at £751,926 up over £430,000 in the two year period from 2016, according to figures obtained by the BBC.
The figures also show that in excess of 300,000 road defects were recorded here over that two year period.
The number of successful vehicle damage claims has also risen from 1590 in 2016, to over 3500 last year.
In recent days the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) released the latest report on Structural Maintenance of the Road Network. Stark statistics outline that an estimated total of £1.2billion in expenditure is required to clear the current backlog of structural maintenance.
The report states, “The amounts received each year are consistently less than what is required to maintain a steady state, resulting in an estimated backlog of work which the Department estimates could cost £1.2billion of additional funding over and above annual allocations.”
The report goes on to note, “There is a strong evidence-based link between funding and the condition of the network.”
Commenting on the report Rosemary Barton MLA said that it highlights the need for more investment in rural roads.
Referring to a quote from the report, namely, ‘Prioritisation of the trunk road network has resulted in the rest of the road network deteriorating at a faster rate.’ Mrs Barton said, “This again is very reflective of the fact that rural roads are not a priority and therefore are unlikely to be maintained to any reasonable level compared to the trunk roads.
“This report is clarification of the fact that rural roads are not receiving a fair investment of the roads network finances, something that the Department have been reluctant to accept for many years.
“Hopefully, this will act as a wake-up call that more investment is needed in rural roads.”
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