Politicians urged to show a ‘united front’ on road funding

Monday’s council meeting heard a startling comparison: if the 3,000 kilometres of local roads in Cavan were laid out end-to-end, they would stretch all the way from the Breffni County to Naples. Yet at the current pace of repairs - around 50 kilometres resurfaced each year - it would take six decades to reach as far as Italy’s Amalfi Coast.

Almost every local TD and Senator from across the Cavan-Monaghan constituency, bar two, attended a specially convened meeting this week (March 9), where they were urged to reaffirm their commitment to lobbying government for significantly increased funding for local and regional roads.

The face-to-face gathering followed a motion tabled by current Cathaoirleach and Fianna Fáil councillor John Paul Feeley, who made no secret of his disappointment with the €19.1M allocation for local and regional roads announced by the Department of Transport last month.

Director of Services Paddy Connaughton outlined how more than 96% of Cavan’s 3,000-kilometre road network consists of regional and local routes. While funding levels have only now returned to pre-economic crash levels of 2008, the county has accumulated a deficit of more than €200M in road investment in the years since - and that’s before inflation is considered.

Mr Connaughton noted how construction costs alone doubled between 2018 and 2024. Although they have since eased slightly, further increases are expected amid ongoing instability in the Middle East, which can drive up materials and fuel prices.

Meanwhile, the condition of the network is deteriorating.

Of Cavan’s 3,000 kilometres of roads, almost 1,400 kilometres - nearly half are now rated “poor to fair” under the current grading system. Even if funding remained at today’s level, it would take 21 years just to restore those roads, and that estimate doesn’t account for further deterioration in the meantime.

Figures presented by the council to Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien last year set out what officials believe is the minimum required to tackle the growing backlog.

They argue that the Restoration Improvement Grant should rise by 50%, from €10M to €15M, while the Discretionary Grant for Local and Regional Roads should increase from €2.4M to €3.6M to help address the cumulative deficit and maintain standards.

In addition, the council is seeking a 50% boost to the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) - from €500,000 to €1 million - to clear an eight-year backlog and meet growing demand from rural communities.

Addressing the assembled Oireachtas members, Cllr Feeley said that all Cavan wants is its “fair share”, but the problem is is that the “cake is too small”.

He again highlighted how people from Cavan have little option other than to travel the roads, and while issues around funding are shared elsewhere, he insisted there is still a special case to be made for this county.

Councillors had made this case before, he said, to now senior cabinet ministers James Lawless and Jack Chambers, as well as to former Minister Shane Ross- meetings he dismissed as little more than “photo opportunities”.

“We’re not being listened to,” fumed Cllr Feeley, before Sinn Féin’s Cathy Bennett rose to take her two minutes of speaking time.

She described the roads funding situation faced by the council as “ridiculous”, while her party colleague Matt Carthy warned the same problems are evident in neighbouring County Monaghan.

“We all drive the same roads,” he said, acknowledging that people in the region often “have no other option” but to travel by car, and insisting it is the right of motorists to use public roads without fearing damage to their vehicles.

Deputy Carthy also addressed claims that the policies of former minister Eamon Ryan had diverted investment away from roads. “That excuse no longer holds,” he accused.

Next to speak was Fine Gael’s David Maxwell, who argued there must be “another allocation” of funding this year - and it should arrive before early summer.

His call was backed by Senator Joe O’Reilly (FG) and Aontú Senator Sarah O’Reilly. She, however, laid responsibility squarely with the current minister, Deputy O’Brien, criticising his attendance record in the Seanad - appearing, she said, five times since the General Election in 2024; speaking about road funding only once indirectly; and failing to attend a commencement debate despite repeated requests.

She then voiced anger at being denied speaking time when Taoiseach Micheál Martin attended the upper house, later posting her speech on social media for the public to read.

Fianna Fáil’s Brendan Smith said it was “very clear” additional funding is required, adding that when money is available the council has consistently shown a readiness to spend it effectively.

The Virginia Bypass, he said, remains “a priority”. Despite ongoing frustration over delays, he urged patience.

“It’s better to do things now and properly,” he said, expressing hope a business case can be presented to Transport Infrastructure Ireland before the end of the year for approval.

Senator Pauline Tully (SF) said she has raised the need for increased roads funding for Cavan in the Seanad on numerous occasions, acknowledging the current allocation is “no longer sufficient” and pointing to alternative funding streams.

Fianna Fáil Senator Diarmuid Wilson was the final Oireachtas member to speak. He shared many of the same concerns already raised.

Council chief executive Eoin Doyle noted that the local authority’s own contribution to road repairs has increased by 44 per cent - the result of “difficult” decisions taken by elected members who recognised the scale of the problem.

Councillors were then given the opportunity to respond.

Independent Ireland’s Shane P. O’Reilly sought agreement on a series of statements: reaffirming full commitment to delivering the Virginia bypass; calling for specific funding for the Ballyjamesduff municipal district to repair backroads either side of the N3 damaged by traffic avoiding Virginia at peak times; demanding a larger share of discretionary budgets for councils; and urging a reduction in carbon tax and excise duty as diesel prices approach €2.

He also called for the development of a park and ride facility at Derver.

Fine Gael’s Winston Bennett said, in his 22 years on the council, he could not recall receiving as many calls from residents complaining about the state of local roads.

He recalled how a man drove to the creamery to collect barrels of calf nuts - only to find them half empty when he arrived home, shaken loose during the journey.

Carmel Brady (FG) pointed out that Mr Connaughton receives “flack” from councillors, who in turn “get it from the people”.

Her concern, she said, is that the county’s byroads serve as a vital artery for industry but are in a terrible state of disrepair. She praised the work carried out by the now-retired Heather Humphreys, and suggested the responsibility for funding for fixing roads should not fall solely on the Department for Transport.

Her colleague T.P. O’Reilly (FG) said he was “shocked” after driving some roads recently, describing them as “irreparable” at this stage.

Fianna Fáil’s Clifford Kelly criticised the introduction of the Local Property Tax as a funding mechanism for local government, noting it had been accompanied by promises of “more money for roads and footpaths” that hadn’t materialised.

He also questioned the Government’s decision to earmark funding for future climate action projects, arguing that increasingly extreme weather is already destroying existing surfaces.

Sinn Féin’s Noel Connell recalled attending a packed public meeting in Bruskey where residents voiced fears about local roads “falling apart”. While he welcomed the visiting TDs and senators to the chamber, he said people expect more than rhetoric.

Sinn Féin’s Damien Brady proposed the reintroduction of drainage committees to prevent water from spilling from fields onto roads, a suggestion backed by Fianna Fáil’s Áine Smith.

Independent Brendan Fay also addressed the meeting, along with Trevor Smith (FG) and Aontú’s Adrian Rogers.

But it was Fianna Fáil councillor Patricia Walsh who issued perhaps the clearest call of the day - urging the visiting Oireachtas members to show a “united front” when they return to Leinster House and argue the county’s case.

That sentiment was echoed by Niall Smith (FF), Val Smith (FG) and Philip Brady (FF), and unanimously through the Chair who thanked the TDs and Senators for their attendance.