GALWAY COUNTY Council failed to draw down almost €320,000 for the improvement of minor roads last year.
Just over €462,000 was available to Galway County Council in Clár funding for roads under a local improvement scheme but the authority only claimed €142,000 - less than one-third.
Another local authority that failed to cash in on its allocation was Carlow, which was approved €38,123 but failed to draw down a single penny of this amount.
The failure of Galway to take up the available funding has been heavily criticised.
Co Galway-based deputy Eamon Ó Cuív, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, said yesterday he was "disappointed" the county had missed out on such a significant amount.
The mayor of Co Galway, Cllr Peter Feeney, also expressed regret that the money had been lost. He stressed, however, that "time had not been on the side" of the council.
"By the time we got final approval for the grant it was very late in the year and nothing could be done. It is very unfortunate."
Under the Clár scheme last year €5.2 million was approved for local improvement schemes but only €4.7 million was paid out.
For every €2 spent by a local authority on local road improvements in a Clár area, an additional €1 would be provided from Clár to fund additional roads.