Brendan Smith demands more funding for non-national roads
Brendan Smith called for a substantial increase in funding for regional and non-national roads, citing extensive damage from heavy rainfall. He said counties such as Cavanagh and Monaghan need a larger allocation in the 2026 roadworks programme because most of their network is non-national.
Damage to local and regional roads
He warned that very heavy rainfall and recent flooding have caused significant damage to local and regional roads. He highlighted that Drumland soils and the lack of free-draining ground in counties like Cavanagh and Monaghan add to the severity of the problem.
Funding shortfall and previous increases
He welcomed a welcome increase in funding to local authorities in 2020 but said this is not enough. He insisted a more significant increase is required, noting the huge demand for additional funding to bring non-national roads up to proper standards.
Engagement with government officials
He recalled the Taoiseach meeting the Fianna Fáil Council from Cavanagh and Monaghan and said he and colleagues put forward a very strong case for greater roadworks funding for 2026. He also said he has raised the issue with the minister responsible, including the Minister of Transport and Senior Minister, to discuss flood impacts and allocation.
Call for a review of allocations
He urged a review of how funding is allocated to non-national roads and demanded a serious allocation to address the effects of inclement, wetter weather. He warned that the wetter weather of recent years is playing havoc with non-national roads across the country.
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to protect and renew the regional local road network, the non-national road network. Now there has been a welcome increase in 2020 on an annual basis in funding to the local authorities but we need a more significant increase. As you are well aware, very heavy rainfall is causing awful damage to our local roads, to our regional roads. Counties like Cavanagh and Monaghan have particular problems because of our topography, our Drumland soils. We don't have free draining soils so we have additional problems in the road network. You will recall the Taoiseach meeting Fianna Fáil Council from Cavanagh and Monaghan along with myself who have put forward a very, very strong case that we need substantial increase in funding for our roadworks programme for 2026 taking into account that 92% of the road network in Cavanagh is non-national. So it shows the huge demand there is for additional funding to bring those roads up to the proper standards that people are fully entitled to. Deputy Smith, there is a big issue with regional roads and non-national roads. The flooding of recent times has done a lot of damage in specific locations but the rainfall generally has. I spoke to the Minister responsible yesterday, Minister of Transport and Senior Minister, Minister O'Brien as well in terms of both the impact of the floods on the roads but also the need to review how we allocate to non-national roads and the need to get a serious allocation there because of the inclement weather, the wetter weather of recent years is playing havoc with non-national roads across the country. Thank you.
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