West Donegal’s ‘important roads are not on the gritting program’

A local councillor has said that “important roads are not on the gritting program”. 

Councillor Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig has highlighted that some “locally important”  roads in west Donegal are not being treated in the frosty weather. 

The Kincasslagh to Dungloe and Doochary to Leitir routes, as well as the Quay Road and Muckish Road, among others, are frequently used. 

“I don't think it's right that in 2026 that roads like Mín na Iolair, An Dúchoraidh go Leitir, An Bhealtaine, Machaire, An Mhucais roads and many other locally important roads are not on the gritting program,” he said. 

“I am getting phone calls from people who weren't able to get down their local roads to get to appointments, and ambulance service is struggling on roads to get to people's houses. For smaller back roads, it is also an option to try to get to your local council yard, where you can get grit.”

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Donegal County Council have a designed Winter Maintenance gritting route - which includes all the major traffic routes in the county. 

The gritted routes are National Primary North, National Primary Central, National Primary South, Inishowen South, Inishowen East, Inishowen West, Milford South, Milford North, Cill Ulta East, Cill Ulta West, Na Rosa, Binswilly, Stranorlar North, Stranorlar East, Stranorlar West, Donegal West, Donegal North, Donegal South, Donegal National Secondary, Buncrana Town, and Letterkenny Town.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme