Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 June 2026
145. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the significant inflationary pressures currently facing local authority roads departments, including Tipperary County Council, and the impact this is having on roads maintenance outputs; and whether consideration is being given to revising the regional and local roads funding model to reflect sustained inflation in construction materials, fuel and contractor costs. [36511/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra148. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if additional funding will be provided to local authorities in 2026 to offset increased fuel, bitumen and construction material costs impacting roads maintenance programmes; if measures are being considered to ensure local authorities can maintain existing levels of road maintenance and restoration works, despite increasing operational costs. [36510/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra167. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Transport if additional funding will be allocated to Mayo County Council and other local authorities to address the backlog of road maintenance in the event of storms and other severe weather events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46200/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra190. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the provision of additional finances to local authorities for roadworks in 2026 as a result of storm/weather incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45925/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 145, 148, 167 and 190 together.
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, 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.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputies' question to TII for a direct reply in relation to national roads. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
In accordance with Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, as amended, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority. Work on such roads is funded from Councils' own resources, supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of work to be funded is a matter for local authorities.
For 2026, €718 million was allocated, through the Regional and Local Roads Grant Programme, for improvement and maintenance, with approximately 90% of this funding allocated to road maintenance and renewal.
Funding under this grant programme is allocated on as fair and equitable a basis as possible to eligible local authorities. In the main protection and renewal grant categories, that basis is the length of the regional and local roads network within a local authority's area of responsibility.
All funding available through this grant programme was allocated to local authorities in February this year.
Local authorities are advised to set aside a contingency, from Department allocations and its own resources, for additional costs that may arise during the course of the year, including inflation and severe weather events.
I am aware of the pressure local authorities are under to deliver their work programmes within their existing budgets this year and that oil price increases may impact contracts, prices, and outputs. Where applicable, mechanisms within contracts for price variation can be utilised by contracting authorities. Road maintenance and rehabilitation is heavily dependent on oil products and bitumen and it is acknowledged that this work is affected by the increasing cost of materials. As such, it is likely that local authorities may have to undertake additional prioritisation to account for this.
