Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2026
382. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Transport the methods used by his Department in allocating funding for national, regional and local roads; whether allocations are based on population, geographic size, road network length or other criteria; and the way in which his Department adjudicates and determines the level of funding provided to each county. [27963/26]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for the overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to our National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015, and in line with our National Development Plan, 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.
Information on the 2026 grant allocations to local authorities for national roads can be found at this link: www.tii.ie/media/luma0wdk/2026-tii-la-national-roads-allocations-booklet.pdf.
As regards the methodology applied by TII on grant allocations, I have referred your question to them for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
My Department's grant funding for the maintenance of regional and local roads is allocated on as fair and equitable a basis as possible to eligible local authorities. In the main protection and renewal grant categories, allocations are based on the length of the road network within a local authority's area of responsibility, with some account taken of the level of traffic. It is envisaged that grants will continue to be allocated on this basis.
For regional and local roads, any improvement projects proposed by local authorities for consideration for funding, under the Specific or Strategic Grant Programmes, are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. All such projects put forward by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines and the Department's Transport Appraisal Framework. Given the limited funding available for improvements, it is important for local authorities to prioritise projects within their overall area of responsibility, with the above-mentioned requirements in mind.
It should be noted that grant funding for regional and local roads is intended as a supplement to the realistic contributions from local authorities’ own resources.
