Tipp roads funding is ‘static’

Rising costs are eating up Tipperary Co Council's roads funding and have left the authority in a position where it is struggling to meet infrastructure demands.

The May meeting of the council was presented with an analysis of roads funding allocations over the last five years. Discretionary grants from the Department of Transport, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the council's own funds had “essentially remained static”.

Funding from the National Transport Authority decreased by some 32% since 2022. Overall funding from the Department of Transport for this year increased by around €7 million.

This was largely linked to the R498 Latteragh realignment scheme - which is out to tender and is to start onsite later this year - and also funding for new speed limit signage.

“Day to day operational funding is relatively static from 2024,” the meeting was informed. “While funding has either plateaued or fallen, costs have increased dramatically with no reflection in funding to mitigate them.”

The costs include local authority wages, which have increased by 23% since 2017.

The cost of bituminous macadam and asphalt was up 23% between 2019 and 2024. The cost of sand and gravel increased by 31% in the same period, while the cost of cement rose by some 75%.

Director of Services Liam Brett said inflation is diminishing any increases the council has had to its roads allocations. He expressed concern over this situation, as it is impacting on the council's ability to deliver and maintain roads infrastructure.

Several councillors welcomed the progress the council has made with road works in the current spell of good weather. But most shared the director's concern over funding.

Cllr Michael Smith called on the council to write to the Minister for Transport to arrange a meeting with the county's Oireachtas members about the situation.

Cllr Fiona Bonfield pointed out that the local authority wrote to the minister earlier this year; she asked if there had been any response.

Cllr Seán Ryan said he proposed writing to the minister after the severe weather event last January. Tipperary suffered more than other counties in that event and should have received extra funding, he argued.

Mr Brett said the January severe weather event impacted the council's budget to the tune of €1 million. It was closely followed by Storm Éowyn in February. The council had written to the minister but received no additional monies.

PATCHING MACHINE

The council had slightly increased its own funding for roads this year to take account of increased energy costs for public lighting. It also included an amount from the 2024 commercial rates increase to be ringfenced for the use of a 'velocity' road patching machine - €93,000 was allocated for the use of the machine in the Nenagh district.

But Cllr John Carroll complained that the patching unit is not being deployed to outlying rural communities, which he said should be afforded equal treatment in terms of remedial works. Cllr Andy Moloney took issue with the "black top" material the council is using to patch roads, something he described as only a "temporary fix".

He was one of several speakers to raise concern over the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS), which is taking six or seven years to complete in some situations.

Cllr Shane Lee raised the condition of the N62 at Gortnagoona and at the approach to Roscrea. He said it is not acceptable in 2025 that motor tax-paying road users should have to contend with a national route that has is in such "deplorable" condition.

"TII needs to step up to the mark here," said Cllr Lee, who also called for traffic calming measures to combat speeding at Sheehane, and for the council to do something about evening time congestion at the traffic lights in the town of Roscrea.

Mr Brett said the council would set up a workshop to discuss roads issues in the coming weeks. He said the patching unit should be seen a lot more around the county due to the allocation made this year. Mr Brett agreed that the N62 Roscrea-Templemore road needs more investment, despite having seen significant work over recent years.