Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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286. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to allocate additional funding to a local authority (details supplied) to repair roads across the county have been severely damaged due to the level of rainfall, snow and freezing temperatures following the recent severe weather event. [8006/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Councils' own resources, which are supplemented by State grants for regional and local roads. The Department of Transport also emphasises to local authorities the importance of setting aside a contingency fund to manage unforeseen events such as severe flooding.

As outlined in the 2025 Regional and Local Roads programme which I released on the 14th of February this year, the Government is strongly committed to protecting the existing regional and local road network. This network is fundamental in connecting people and places across the country.

In line with established practice, local authorities are advised by my Department that a contingency provision should be reserved from the overall resources available to each authority for regional and local roads so as to deal with damage caused by severe weather conditions.

In addition, local authorities may carry out repairs from the regional and local road grants available to them and from their own resources and in this context, it is open to each Council to determine and reprioritise its work programme following severe weather events.

As part of the 2023–24 European windstorm season, Ireland experienced several severe weather events, most noticeably Storm Babet, causing considerable damage to the regional and local road network.

Funding of over €25 million has been provided to Cork County Council in 2024 for emergency repairs on the regional and local road network. The Department continues to engage with Cork County Council, and in 2025 the Council has been allocated €6.8 million for severe weather repairs.

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 (NDP), 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. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you in relation to additional funding for Cork County Council.

Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply updating you as to the latest status of the National Roads projects. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.