Speaking in the Dáil, Cavan Monaghan TD Brendan Smith has called on the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD, and the government to commit greater funding for the regional and local road network. This follows Deputy Smith’s recent Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, seeking further financial support for local authorities to carry out road upgrades and maintenance.
“There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to protect and renew the regional, local and non-national road network. The recent very heavy rainfall has caused awful damage to our local and regional roads. Counties like Cavan and Monaghan have particular problems because of our topography and our drumlin soils. We do not have free draining soils and, therefore, face additional problems in the road network,” said Deputy Brendan Smith.
“There has been a welcome increase since 2020 in funding to local authorities on an annual basis. However, we need a more significant increase. Taking into account the fact that 92% of the road network in Cavan does not comprise national roads, there is considerable demand for additional funding to bring our roads up to the proper standards to which people are fully entitled,” he continued
Responding to Deputy Brendan Smith in the Dáil the Taoiseach acknowledged the issues and challenges with regional and non-national roads and that the flooding of recent times has done a lot of damage in specific locations.
The Taoiseach stated that he has spoken with the Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien TD, on the impact of the floods on the roads and the need to review how funding is allocated to non-national roads.
Brendan Smith TD welcomed the Taoiseach’s response. “The inclement, wetter weather of recent years is playing havoc with non-national roads and the 2026 regional and local road grant allocations which will be finalised shortly must take into account the additional expenditure required to improve and maintain the standard of our road network,” he concluded.
Written Parliamentary Question
For Written Answer on: 22/01/2026
Question No.: 312
Reference No.: 5401/26
Department: Transport
Asked by: Brendan Smith T.D.
Question
To ask the Minister for Transport if he will ensure a substantial increase in funding for the non-national road network for Cavan and Monaghan County Councils in 2026, in view of the urgent need to upgrade and carry out repairs to roads throughout both counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Reply
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.
The 2026 regional and local road grant allocations will be finalised shortly and will take into account the expenditure outturn on projects and programmes in the preceding year. Within the budget available, 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 will continue to be the protection and renewal of the regional and local road network.
Programme for Government
Dáil Éireann Debate – Wednesday, 4 February 2026
Deputy Brendan Smith
As the Taoiseach is aware, there is a commitment in the programme for Government to protect and renew the regional, local and non-national road network. There has been a welcome increase since 2020 in funding to local authorities on an annual basis.
We need a more significant increase. As the Taoiseach is well aware, very heavy rainfall is causing awful damage to our local and regional roads. Counties like Cavan and Monaghan have particular problems because of our typography and our drumlin soils. We do not have free draining soils and, therefore, face additional problems in the road network.
The Taoiseach will recall meeting Fianna Fáil councillors from Cavan and Monaghan, along with me, when they put forward a strong case for a substantial increase in funding for a roadworks programme for 2026, taking into account the fact that 92% of the road network in Cavan does not comprise national roads. There is significant demand for additional funding to bring roads up to the proper standards to which people are fully entitled.
The Taoiseach
There is a big issue with regional and non-national roads. The flooding of recent times has done a lot of damage in specific locations, but the rainfall generally has had an effect.
I spoke yesterday to the Minister responsible – the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O’Brien – on the impact of the floods on the roads, the need to review how we allocate funding to non-national roads and the need to get a serious allocation there. The inclement, wetter weather of recent years is playing havoc with non-national roads across the country.
