216. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that increased funding will be provided in 2027 for the non national road network taking into account the urgent need for road improvements and upgrading work in County Cavan and County Monaghan, given the huge dependency in both counties on this road network with a small percentage of the road network having a national road status. [67604/26]

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.

For 2027, regional and local road grant allocations will be finalised after the publication of the Revised Estimates Volume and will take into account the expenditure outturn on projects and programmes in the preceding year.

Within the budget available, the objective of my Department is to allocate funding to eligible local authorities on as equitable a basis as possible, taking the length of the road network into account. The main focus of the Regional and Local Roads Grant Programme continues to be protection and renewal.