No extra funding for Tipperary roads

Allocations were ‘fair and equitable’

Tipperary Co Council will not receive any extra funding for roads in 2026, despite raising concerns over the impact of rising fuel costs and inflation.

The council recently wrote to local TDs after stating that it is not receiving the funding required to keep in line with inflation. While welcoming the allocations it received for capital projects this year, particular concern was raised over decreased allocation for local road maintenance.

Deputy Alan Kelly this week said he was “very disappointed” after the Minister for Transport confirmed to him that no extra funding would be provided to Tipperary Co Council. “As a council, they have one of the largest road networks of any council in Ireland to maintain and some of them are in an awful state,” Deputy Kelly said.

“I'm continuously having constituents on to me and my office, and Cllrs Fiona Bonfield, Louise Morgan Walsh and Michael Chicken Brennan regarding such roads and there is very little the council can do without more funding.”

‘CUTTING OFF THEIR NOSE’

“In reality, the Government are cutting off their nose to spite their face as leaving these roads to deteriorate will only end up costing more when they do eventually have to be repaired,” Deputy Kelly reasoned.

“I'm calling on the Government to change direction and use their common sense and provide extra funding now while the council roads division has the months ahead to do the work before we head into the autumn when the weather changes, as less work will be viable then.”

In written reply to Deputy Kelly’s Parliamentary Question, Minister Darragh O’Brien said Tipperary Co Council was allocated a total of €49,379,670 in 2026. Of this, €36,234,670 was allocated for the protection and renewal of Tipperary's regional and local roads.

Nationally, Minister O’Brien said this year’s allocation for “road protection and renewal works” increased by €26 million.

“The allocation to each eligible local authority is on as fair and equitable a basis as possible,” he replied. “In the main protection and renewal grant categories, it is based on the length of the road network within a local authority's area of responsibility, with some account taken of the level of traffic present.”

The minister wanted it noted that “Exchequer funding for regional and local roads is intended to supplement realistic contributions from local authorities’ own resources.

“My department is aware of the pressure local authorities are under to deliver their work programmes for regional and local roads within their existing budgets, and that oil price increases may impact contracts, contract prices, and outputs. Where applicable, mechanisms within contracts for price variation can be utilised by contracting authorities. Road maintenance and rehabilitation is heavily dependent on oil products and bitumen, and it is acknowledged that this work is affected by the increasing cost of materials.”