Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I thank Senator Reilly for raising this issue. I hope she is enjoying her stay in the Seanad. It is great to see people who have been on local authorities coming into the Seanad. I know that Members come from diverse backgrounds, but people like her bring that experience and knowledge in here. I can see that she is familiar with what is happening in her county and constituency. It is great that she can bring that knowledge here to the floor of the Seanad.

I was a member of my local authority when I got elected to the Seanad. The abolition of the dual mandate then came in. While I believe the abolition of the dual mandate was correct, it sometimes takes Members away from their local authorities. It is great to see the Senator here.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important topic with Members of the House on behalf of the Minister for Transport. The Senator’s question relates to the number of kilometres of regional rural roads being maintained each year. As the Senator is aware, and as outlined in the 2025 regional and local roads programme, the Government is strongly committed to protecting the existing road network. It is important to highlight that the improvement and maintenance of the regional and local road network is the statutory responsibility of each local authority. Works on these roads are funded from the councils' own resources and are supplemented by State road grants.The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority.

There has been a significant increase in Exchequer funding in recent years, with an Exchequer investment of €713 million in our regional and local roads this year. This represents an increase of 25% in funding when compared to 2021. The cost of doing the roads has gone up since 2021. There is a case to be made in that regard, and it is one I make myself representing Sligo-Leitrim and south Donegal. I come from Roscommon and we represent a bit of Cavan as well so I understand the issues.

Because of the pressures on the regional and local road network, the primary focus of investment is on the protection and renewal of that road network, which plays a critical role in supporting economic and community links throughout the country. The Senator mentioned postmen and buses. That is an issue we must be aware of. Funding for these grant types is 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 this basis as it is the most equitable approach.

The Department appreciates that within the overall parameters set for the regional and local road grant programme, local authorities might need to target funding at particular problem areas. 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. In this context, the Department has supported the development of a road asset management system for regional and local roads - MapRoad - to provide the data needed for each local authority to manage its network as effectively as possible, including the prioritisation of works for inclusion in its maintenance and renewal works programme. The road pavement condition information generated by the MapRoad system forms the basis for the National Oversight and Audit Commission, NOAC, performance reports each year. In 2024, the Department provided funding for 3,038 km of pavement sealing on the regional and local road network and 2,256 km of road strengthening works.

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 investment towards regional and local roads. I hear what the Senator is saying and I will certainly bring her very important views back to the Minister.