Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2026
172. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport to provide a year-on-year update on roads improvement and maintenance funding for County Meath for 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026; the measures he is taking to ensure adequate funding to address road deterioration in the wake of the recent harsh weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14755/26]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority and Exchequer funding is intended to supplement local authorities’ own resources.
On 17th February I announced an Exchequer investment of €718 million in our regional and local roads across the State. This will facilitate an increase in funding allocation of €26 million this year for road protection and renewal works.
Within the budget available for the regional and local road grant programme, the objective is to allocate funding to eligible local authorities on as equitable a basis as possible taking the length of the road network into account. The main focus of the grants continues to be the protection and renewal of the regional and local road network.
In 2026, Meath County Council received an allocation of €26,862,000 which is an increase of 7.5% when compared to 2022.
Government is committed to assisting affected local authorities in the aftermath of Storm Chandra. My Department is liaising with affected counties, who are continuing to compile and assess damage on the ground to enable proper estimation of the total damage caused and the estimated cost of remediation.
It should be noted that Exchequer funding for regional and local roads is intended to supplement realistic contributions from local authorities’ own resources. Local authorities are also advised to set aside a contingency from Department allocations and own resources for severe weather events. As the statutory road authorities for their areas, it is also open to local authorities to prioritise investment on regional and local roads.
As regards the total funding allocated to and drawn down by Meath County Council by grant type for the years 2023-2025, details of the regional and local road allocations and payments to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road allocations and payments booklets which are available on the Oireachtas Digital Library. The 2026 allocations booklet will be lodged shortly.
Full details of the 2026 regional and local grant allocations are available at https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-transport/press-releases/ministers-for-transport-announce-over-15-billion-for-national-regional-and-local-roads/.
As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Infrastructure Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals.
National roads allocations for years 2023 -2025 are available at: https://www.tii.ie/en/tii-library/reports-accounts/. Full details of national roads allocations for 2026 are available on the TII website: 2026-tii-la-national-roads-allocations-booklet.pdf
I have referred the question to TII for a direct reply regarding funding allocated to Meath County Council. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
