359. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Transport the funding that has been allocated for maintenance and improvement of regional and local roads in county Meath in the current budget year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34458/26]

In 2026, Meath County Council was initially allocated a total of €26,862,000. Of this, €25,637,000 was allocated for the protection and renewal of Meath's regional and local roads.

In accordance with Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, as amended, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority. Work on such roads is funded from Councils' own resources, supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of work to be funded is a matter for local authorities.

For 2026, €718 million was allocated, through State road grants, for the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, with approximately 90% of this funding allocated to road maintenance and renewal and the remainder directed towards new roads, bridges, and road realignments. This total allocation will facilitate an increase in funding of €26 million this year for road protection and renewal work.

All funding available through the 2026 Regional and Local Road Grant Programme was allocated to local authorities in February this year. Such allocations should supplement realistic contributions from local authorities’ own resources.