Road Projects
Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-27
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Charlie McConalogue (FF), Donegal

I thank Senator O'Reilly for raising this issue and welcome the opportunity to discuss it on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien. The Senator's question relates to the funding provided for both Cavan and Monaghan county councils for the maintenance and improvement of regional local roads.
I assure the Senator that the Government is strongly committed to our existing road network. Local authorities are responsible by statute for the maintenance and improvement of regional and local roads present in their respective areas of responsibility. Any work undertaken on these roads is funded by the resources of the local authority concerned and, where eligible, this is supplemented by the Department of Transport's regional and local roads grant programme. The initial selection and prioritisation of work to be funded is a matter, in the first instance, for the local authority.
The pressure on our regional and local roads is well understood, as is the critical role they play in supporting our economic activity and community links. As a result, the regional and local roads grant programme is primarily targeted at the maintenance and renewal of our existing roads network, with the remainder invested in new roads, new bridges and road realignments. The funds available through this programme have been steadily increasing in recent years. For 2026, €718 million was made available, which will facilitate an increase of €26 million for road protection and renewal throughout the country.
The grant programme operated by the Department is focused on specific policy objectives. Restoration maintenance grants look to pavement sealing to protect the road surface from water damage. Restoration improvement grants look to road strengthening to lengthen the life of road pavements. The discretionary grants available allow for a range of activities, including pothole repair, edge strengthening, renewal of signs and lines and winter maintenance. These three grant programmes account for most of the funding available.
The basis for determining the allocations for each local authority under this grant programme is related to the total number of kilometres of regional and local roads within their areas of responsibility. This is held as being the most equitable method of distribution. The current rate of inflation or level of population are not factors taken into consideration. For 2026, allocations were notified to local authorities on 17 February. Cavan and Monaghan county councils were allocated over €19 million and over €17 million, respectively, with most of this funding directed towards protection and renewal. In addition, in 2024 and 2025, both Cavan and Monaghan county councils received funding for several pilot projects relating to road materials. The Department is appreciative of the assistance provided in the delivery of on-site works under the reclaimed asphalt pavement project.
It should be noted that Exchequer funding for regional and local roads is intended to supplement realistic contributions from local authorities' own resources. As the statutory road authorities for their areas, it is open to local authorities to prioritise own resource investment towards regional and local roads. In addition to the funding provided under the regional and local roads grant programme, national roads were also provided funding. For 2026, Cavan and Monaghan county councils were allocated €5.8 million and €10.1 million, respectively. This funding supports the maintenance, improvement and progression of new road projects.
The difficulty in delivering road programmes within existing budgets is understood, as is the additional difficulty caused by variability in the market. While there may be provisions within existing contracts that can be utilised, ultimately it is a matter for local authorities to prioritise work and determine what can be best achieved with their existing budgets.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-05-27/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:00+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-27