Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

92. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on regional and local roads investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9452/25]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Déanaim comhghairdeas leat as do phost nua.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wanted to ask the Minister about regional and local roads investment, in particular, the local improvement schemes, and if he will make a statement in relation to it.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle as ucht a phoist nua. Congratulations on your new post, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

I thank the Deputy for his question as I know that this is a matter of interest to him and to many Deputies within the House. I certainly know that by the number of queries that I have received over the past week or so. The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, as the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads funded from councils' own resources are supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority. They send their submissions up to the Department.

As outlined in the 2025 regional and local roads grant programme, which I announced on 14 February this year, the Government is strongly committed to protecting the existing regional and local road network. This network is fundamental in maintaining social and economic connectivity, linking people and places across the country. Ireland's regional and local road network spans 96,000 km. The network requires significant funding to ensure it remains fit for purpose, safe and resilient. As such, €713 million has been allocated to regional and local road grants in 2025, with approximately 90% of this funding being directed towards maintenance and renewal works. This represents an overall increase of 8% in funding, year on year. This funding will support local authorities in carrying out an extensive 2025 programme of maintenance and restoration works. Funding also supports various safety improvement works, bridge rehabilitation schemes, drainage works, climate adaptation measures, community involvement projects and the maintenance of former national roads.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the reply. There are roads the length and breadth of the country that are in a serious state of disrepair. There is no city, town or village that is not impacted. Due to years of neglect by successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments, road users in every corner of the State feel abandoned.

It is especially true in rural Ireland where it must be remembered that 70% of road collisions occur. Instead of getting to grips with this situation, what we have heard recently is kite flying, whether it is in the implementation of the new speed limits without any ability to enforce them or announcing new road investments that are not really that new at all. The only new part of that €713 million investment recently announced is money that the Department failed to spend last year to the tune of €115 million. The story was the same in 2023 and 2022 when there was a capital carry-over of €140 million and €160 million, respectively. It is all well and good grandstanding about increased investment but there must be a plan to deal with it because it is not just money that is needed. We need a plan and a roadmap for delivery. Take my constituency of Kerry, where the LIS list has 625 roads on the priority list. As the council gets to about 20 roads per year, it would take about 30 years to complete that. What measures is the Minister taking to ensure the Department does not have a capital carry-over? What measures is the Department taking to speed up road maintenance under the LIS scheme?

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Tá am breise ag an Teachta anocht. There is no kite flying on this. This is real money for roads across the country. We announced them and people will see the network of roads. As part of this investment in 2025, just under €48 million is being invested in developing and upgrading this infrastructure through vital strategic projects. The Deputy will be familiar with some of them. These include projects identified for development under the national development plan such as the Tralee northern relief road – I do not think that is a kite anyone is flying - and the Shannon crossing, the Killaloe bypass and the R494 upgrade. Furthermore, €22.2 million is also being provided for smaller-scale road improvements under the specific grant category.

I could go through the list of all the roads but I have published it. It includes €330 million for road pavement strengthening and €75 million for preventative surface stressing. Our budget will be expended this year. I can assure the Deputy of that. We have a very strong pipeline of works under way. In the coming weeks I will announce the national works programme too. It will see significant investment. I am glad to see some significant projects with which the Deputy will be familiar, such as the Adare bypass which has started. Again, that is not a kite; it is happening. We will continue to invest in our roads because I accept there are deficits in areas and we want to try to address them.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There seems to be significant discrepancies between different county councils when it comes to road maintenance and repair. Some move at a much faster pace. What is the Minister going to do about that? If local authorities are expected to be responsible for the upkeep of our local and regional roads, they need resources. The Minister mentioned the Adare bypass. There is a strong suspicion. Local engineers spent an awful long time preparing documents for tender to improve the Ring of Kerry road near Glenbeigh school and the N86 from Lispole to Dingle but then, suddenly, the funding was cut despite all the efforts that were made. While the Adare bypass is necessary, there is a feeling that is where the money went to. Will he commit to restoring the funding on the roads where the tendering documents were prepared at the expense of a lot of cost and time by local engineers?

Finally, the Minister has committed to solving the problems with local authorities and their funding but it has gone on too long. Collisions used to be mapped. There was a cost-benefit analysis and a response but this information seems to have been cut. It does not seem to be happening any more.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

All of us want to see further improvements in the road network and in particular when we look at regional and local roads. I do not think anyone can dispute the investment for 2025 is very significant. Will it do every regional and local road across the country? Of course it will not. You must have a works programme as well and the capacity to deliver those programmes. That is what I and the Ministers of State, Deputies Canney and Buttimer, in this Government will be focused on.

It is for the local authorities to bring the schemes forward and to make submissions to ourselves and through the roads authorities as well. It is from that decisions are made in relation to the delivery of the funding for those schemes. We are focused on delivery. People will see significant improvements over the term of this Government. In any annual works programme there is no question that every road within it will be addressed but we will have a significant announcement very shortly in relation to the national roads programme. The Deputy will look at it, and rightly so, but these are projects we want to advance further.