Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

291. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress to date in upgrading a route (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28840/25]

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

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 supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority.

On 14th February I announced an Exchequer investment of €713 million in our regional and local roads across the State which represents an overall increase of over 8% in funding this year. The main focus of the grants continues to be the protection and renewal of the regional and local road network.

My department has been working with Cavan and Louth County Councils in relation to funding projects associated with the proposed upgraded East West Link Road. As the Deputy is aware the proposed scheme would run on regional routes from Dundalk to Cavan and national routes from Cavan to Sligo.

Going back some time there was a proposal for a substantial upgrade of the regional road part of the route; my department provided over €2 million to Cavan County Council, acting as lead authority with Monaghan and Louth County Councils, to progress the regional road element of the project to preliminary design stage.

However, more recent appraisal work has indicated a very substantial cost if the road scheme was fully implemented. As such, my department engaged Cavan County Council to carry out a risk-based analysis for the route between Dundalk and Cavan. This analysis explored the possibility of a series of interventions which could be implemented over time, and which could improve safety, journey times, and bring consistency to the travel speed along the route. From this risk analysis individual local authorities examined if, and how, projects identified could be brought forward, while taking into account their own priorities and available resources.

My department allocated funding to both Cavan and Louth County Councils to carry out initial assessments of two possible schemes along the R178 Cavan to Dundalk Strategic Regional Route. Subsequently, both Louth and Cavan County Councils submitted Strategic Assessment Reports for these two schemes. These submissions have been reviewed and approval has been provided to advance both schemes. My department provided further funding in 2024 to both Cavan County Council and Louth County Council to advance these schemes.

In 2025, Louth County Council received an allocation of €350,000 for the Cavan – Dundalk Scheme Ribgeom R178 Sections D6 & D7 project and Cavan County Council received an allocation of €100,000 for the R188 Rathkenny East-West Road project. Funding requirements for 2026 are yet to be determined and my Department continues to liaise with the relevant Local Authorities in relation to these projects.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

292. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will give further consideration to the provision of additional funding in 2025 for the non-national road network, particularly in areas such as Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28871/25]

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

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority and Exchequer funding is intended to supplement local authorities’ own resources.

On 14th February I announced an Exchequer investment of €713 million in our regional and local roads across the State which represents an overall increase of over 8% in funding this year. The main focus of the grants continues to be the protection and renewal of the regional and local road network.

In 2025, Cavan County Council received an allocation of €19,193,150 which is an increase of €1,752,840 on their 2024 allocation and Monaghan County Council received an allocation of €18,008,350 which is an increase of €1,751,255.

Within the budget available for the regional and local road grant programme, the objective is to allocate funding to eligible local authorities on as equitable a basis as possible taking the length of the road network into account. The main focus of the grants continues to be the protection and renewal of the regional and local road network.

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 on regional and local roads.