Minister urged to make up for 25% increase in road repair costs

A Fianna Fáil councillor has suggested Monaghan County Council seek an increase in funding for road repairs to compensate for the estimated 25% hike in costs of materials.

Highlighting the "desperate" state of the roads network, Cllr PJ O’Hanlon made the proposal at a recent meeting of Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District (MD). He suggested they write, through Monaghan County Council to Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien for an increase in funding to address the shortfall.

The Fianna Fáil representative wanted to know if the MD would be able to complete the roads they had committed to doing in 2026 or would some of these be pushed into 2027 because of a shortfall in funding. If that were the case, what would happen with the roads on the 2027 list?

“We have to be upfront and frank. What’s happening with roads is so wrong.

“I want a proposal to go from this MD via Monaghan Co Council requesting support for the shortfall in funding, brought on by increased costs due to war. We made some commitments and we need to make sure those roads are done.

“If we end up with a 25% increase in costs, does that mean a 25% decrease in output? The roads are in a desperate way,” Cllr O’Hanlon commented.

Seconding Cllr O’Hanlon’s proposal, Cllr Noel Keelan (SF), noted that councillors are seeking a meeting with Minister O’Brien.

A cross-party delegation was willing to meet the Minister at a time and place of his choosing: “The funding for roads is inadequate, some of the roads are impassable. People are paying the Universal Social Charge and duty on fuel is at 50-60%. People driving cars are being fleeced. We’re not looking for runways just roads that are passable. We need to meet with the minister.”

The proposal received unanimous support.