Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2026
149. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Transport if he will give urgent consideration to the request of counties Wicklow and Wexford, for an emergency adverse weather fund for the non-national road network for 2026, taking into account the further deterioration in road surfaces due to the ongoing consistent and heavy rainfall which impacts severely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14598/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 193 together.
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Councils' own resources, which are supplemented by State grants for regional and local roads.
As regards the basis for allocating grants, within the budget available for the regional and local road grant programme, the 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 this context, grants in the main grant categories are allocated based on the length of the road network within a local authority's area of responsibility with some account taken of traffic. It is envisaged that grants will continue to be made available on that basis.
Basing regional and local roads grant allocations on road conditions could result in an unequitable distribution of Exchequer funding. For example, local authorities that allocate higher levels of own resources funding to regional and local roads will have a larger proportion of roads with a higher condition rating than those with lower levels of own resources funding. Basing allocations on road condition could therefore disincentivise local authorities from allocating own resources funding to roads maintenance.
The Department appreciates that, within the overall parameters set for the grant programme, local authorities might need to target funding at particular problem areas and there is sufficient flexibility in the structure of the grant programme to allow for this. It is also open to each local authority to allocate its own resources to priority areas.
The 2026 regional and local road allocations were notified to local authorities on 17th February, and Wexford County Council has been allocated a total of €23,317,100. Of this, €22,747,100 has been allocated for the protection and renewal of Wexford’s regional and local roads. This is an increase from the initial 2025 allocation of €21,958,850 for protection and renewal grants. In 2026, Wicklow County Council has received an allocation of €14,908,200 for the protection and renewal of regional and local roads. This is an increase from the initial 2025 allocation of €14,602,800 for protection and renewal grants.
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.
