Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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267. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for increasing funding for the protection and renewal of the rural road network to resolve road maintenance backlogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25652/25]

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 and Exchequer funding is intended to supplement local authorities’ own resources.

On 14th February 2025 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, €643 million from the total budget of €713 million has been allocated to protection and renewal works.

As regards funding beyond 2025, the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation is leading the review of the NDP, and work is ongoing within my Department to contribute to this review. The review of the NDP will be aligned with the National Planning Framework and Project Ireland 2040 and is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. Funding commitments for roads for 2026 and beyond are currently under consideration as part of this review.