Government Department doesn't have enough resources to remove graffiti from Newry Canal bridge

The Department for Infrastructure doesn't have enough resources to remove graffiti from the side of a bridge over Newry Canal. It's alongside the popular Newry Canal towpath used by hundreds of walkers and cyclists daily.

In reply to a Newry.ie query the department said that it has had to reduce it's routime maintenance to a limited service. The department also added that because its location doesn't impact on road safety it doesn't ahve the same priority.

A spokesperson for the department said "Due to a challenging budgetary position, the Department has had to reduce its routine maintenance activities to a ‘limited service’ which seeks to prioritise the delivery of essential services to manage the risk to public safety."

 The spokesperson continued "The Department gives priority to the removal of graffiti in situations where it is considered to present a road safety hazard, such as the defacement of road signs. As this graffiti is on the bridge’s underpass it does not impact on road safety and the Department does not have sufficient resources to remove it."