Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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I welcome the Minister of State. I cannot deny that I am disappointed again that the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is elusive when it comes to appearing in this House.

Since being elected, I have consistently raised the issue of roads funding in counties Cavan and Monaghan. Roads across both counties are in a critical condition. Potholes, cracks and crumbling surfaces are accepted as normal. People pay their motor tax, carbon tax and tolls every day, yet they are driving on roads that are substandard and not fit for purpose.

Earlier this year, the Government announced roads funding and described it as a "significant investment". The overall allocation was a reduction of €28,000 when compared with the 2025 allocation. Meanwhile, there was an established shortfall of €110 million in roads investment and maintenance between 2008 and 2023.Only yesterday, the R191 Canningstown to Bailieborough road, a major regional route, had to be closed because of a sinkhole. This shows the scale of the problem we face, which I have been trying to flag in this House at every chance I get. Official PSCI - pavement surface condition index - ratings show a substantial portion of the road network in County Cavan is between categories 1 and 4 and in categories 5 and 6, which are the worst categories. At the current rate of funding, it would take 40 years to clear the backlog to get the roads to an acceptable safe standard. People have a right to get to work safely, and on safe roads.

Cavan county councillors came to Leinster House many times last year with detailed evidence of road deterioration. They feel ignored and completely disrespected. The previous Government blamed the Green Party for prioritising greenways over roads, but the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, appears to be continuing with the same approach. If the Government cannot properly fund both, basic road infrastructure must come first.

Will additional funding be allocated for roads in Cavan and Monaghan this year?

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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Before I call the Minister of State, I welcome Deputy John Connolly and his guests from Galway. They are very welcome to the House.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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The Minister of State's answer is interesting as it is just a definition of all the schemes and resources available. It does not tackle the actual issue. The Minister told councillors there would be a substantial increase in funding when, in fact, there was a decrease. Those are the facts. The Minister also said there would be an announcement before Christmas, but it did not happen until February.

Councillors and Oireachtas Members continue to constantly raise this issue, but it feels like our calls are falling on deaf ears. The Minister has not been into this Chamber more than a handful of times, despite being asked to come here on many occasions. He has time to open a road in Killydoon that had already been opened by Leo Varadkar. Why would we celebrate the opening of the Killydoon bypass when it is just another excuse for the Government to have a good photo op? This 3.5 km road will be opened, while people have to travel over potholes, sinkholes and cracks on the rest of the road network.

Councillors Shane P. O'Reilly, Adrian Rogers and Brendan Fay and the Sinn Féin councillors in County Cavan have all written to the cathaoirleach and chief executive of Cavan County Council to ask for a meeting with the Minister before he opens the road in Killydoon on Friday. The response they got was disrespectful and outrageous. It stated the Minister would only be there for 20 minutes and would not have time to talk to councillors. That is the level of respect being shown to these councillors, who include members of Fianna Fáil, the Minister's own party, who are also not happy with the situation.

We are being treated as an afterthought when it comes to infrastructural investment. We have huge increases in industry and a high volume of traffic. Roads are the backbone of our economy. People need to get their products to market, and that regional road is closed in a municipal district that has no national route. I have tabled Commencement matters on roads numerous times in this House and the Minister has still not turned up for a single debate.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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Thank you, Senator O'Reilly. I have to give time to the Minister of State to respond.

Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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If nothing is done, the roads will continue to deteriorate and it will become a bigger issue, as it did yesterday. There has still been no answer to the question I asked.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Senator O'Reilly again. I will pass on her feedback and comments to the Minister and Department and raise with the Minister the fact that she has raised this significant issue in Cavan and Monaghan and is seeking additional funding.

As regards the response from the Department, it outlines the level of funding for this year, which was announced in February, with €19 million for Cavan and €17 million for Monaghan. It also outlines that funding for the upkeep and renewal of roads is allocated on a per kilometre basis nationally. It depends on the number of kilometres of road in each county. Nationally, this year, we saw a €26 million increase for road protection and renewal across the country, which meant there was €718 million available. That sum was then allocated on a per kilometre basis.

I am not sure of any fairer way to allocate this funding. It has long been the Department's position regarding how roads are maintained. County councils also have capacity within their own resources, which I accept are always stretched and there are many competing interests, to decide on how they allocate their resources and whether any additional amount is given to road maintenance. That is at the discretion of the local authority.

The Senator is seeking additional funding and she outlined the pressure on the road system in both Cavan and Monaghan. I will relay that to the Minister and Department.