Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit chuig an Teach seo ar maidin. I thank the Minister of State for taking time out of his busy schedule to be here.

We can all agree that our roads have taken a severe battering from incessant rain over the past number of months. Roads are badly damaged everywhere, from country, local and national roads to our streets and motorways. In addition to funding from local authorities' coffers, a sum of €718 million in State road grants has been allocated to local authorities for the improvement and maintenance of both regional and local roads around the country. That was before the war in Iran erupted, however, which has caused the price of diesel, petrol and home heating oil to hit our pockets.

As the Minister of State will be aware, oil is a necessary component in bitumen and tar. It will no doubt have a severe impact on the cost of road maintenance and, by extension, the number of roads that can be repaired and maintained. Some local authorities have already reported price increases of approximately 25% for road maintenance materials. In many instances, they might not meet their targets this year as a result.

In my area of Cavan and Monaghan, roads are in a critically poor state. For example, Monaghan has the second highest rural road network density in the country. Monaghan County Council has stated that it has experienced an approximate 25% increase in costs that it believes is directly attributed to the conflict and war in the Middle East. Monaghan County Council received €17 million from the Department of Transport this year for local and regional works, and it also contributed €5.8 million from its own coffers to repair those roads. More than a quarter of its total annual budget is dedicated to road maintenance.

Local authorities use data from the pavement, surface and condition index, PSCI, to monitor the condition of local and regional roads. Roads are surveyed and given ratings from 1 to 10, with 1 being very poor and 10 being excellent. Based on the most recent data, almost 400 km of Monaghan's local and regional roads are categorised as being in very poor condition. These are roads that are susceptible to the formation of potholes. This is almost double the national average. The cost of fixing the 190 km of road needed to bring it down to the national average was previously estimated to cost €33 million, based on 2024 construction figures. However, due to rising inflation in the cost of materials and contractors, this figure is now estimated at approximately €46 million. That is an increase of €13 million in two years, which is staggering. I think the Minister of State will agree with me in that regard. The council says current funding levels are not sufficient to eliminate the maintenance backlog.

County Cavan is in a similar situation. Funding of €234 million is needed to remediate the 1,140 km of road in this category. By contrast, the planned €55 million funding for road works on sections of the worst roads in the county seems like a drop in the ocean.

As the conflict in the Middle East continues, so too will the uncertainty as to how this will negatively affect our budgets and the number of roads it will be possible to address. Clearly, we have a serious problem. The funding we have received to date, although welcome, is totally inadequate compared to the needs of both counties. From talking to the Minister of State's colleagues in County Cork, I am sure the situation there is somewhat similar. It is an issue that needs to be addressed. I look forward to the Minister of State's response.

I thank Senator Gallagher for his question. I welcome the opportunity to speak to the House on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien. I understand the question relates to the provision of additional funding for road maintenance due to the rising cost of materials. The Government is strongly committed to protecting our existing road network. The improvement and maintenance of our regional and local roads are the responsibility of local authorities. Funding for such improvements and maintenance is provided through council resources and the State's road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of work that is funded is a matter for the local authority concerned. The vast majority of grants provided are targeted at the maintenance and renewal of the existing road network, with the remainder invested in new roads, bridges and road realignment.

There has been a significant increase in Exchequer funding in recent years, with €718 million provided for our regional and local roads this year. This will facilitate an increase of €26 million for road protection and renewal work. Due to the level of use of our regional and local road network, the primary focus of investment is on protection and renewal because these roads play a critical role in supporting economic activity and community links throughout the country.

There are three main regional and local road grant programmes that account for most of the grant funding available to local authorities. First, there is the restoration maintenance grant for pavement sealing works to protect the road surface from water damage. Second, the restoration improvement grant supports road strengthening works to lengthen the life of the road. Third, the discretionary grant allows for a range of activities, including pothole repairs, edge strengthening, renewal of signs and lines and winter maintenance. The level of funding allocated for each of these is based on the length of the road network within a local authority area.

It should also be noted that Exchequer funding for regional and local roads is intended to supplement realistic contributions from local authorities' own resources. As the statutory road authorities for their areas, it is open to local authorities to prioritise investment towards regional and local roads.

The Senator raised the issue of funding arrangements that have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII. Under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 and in line with our national development plan, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII.

We have had many briefings in the past couple of weeks, particularly since the outbreak of war. A lot of local authorities have been looking at their budgets and the escalating cost of the contracts. They are concerned about the impact the rise in oil prices may have on contract prices and the outputs in that regard. When it comes to increasing funding, the Government and the Department are continuously looking at the effects increased oil prices are having on every aspect of our society. We have put in place over €750 million of funding to help people who are severely affected by oil prices, but the Senator's point about additional funding is one I will take back to the Department of Transport. It is one Monaghan County Council and every other local authority have been raising with us because they are seriously concerned that their programme for 2026 may not be reached as a result of the increased cost of some of the contracts. It is concerning. Obviously, the ongoing war in the Middle East is hugely concerning. It is affecting all of our lives and we have to make the best possible decisions in order to future-proof. We do not know how long the war will continue. I will respond further in my closing comments.

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I fully appreciate that this is not his area of responsibility and that he is taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister of Transport. Coming from rural Ireland where we have no train network and a limited bus service, the only show in town to get from A to B for many families is the local and regional roads. The condition of the local roads in Monaghan and Cavan has reached a critical stage. School transport is being affected because some bus drivers are refusing to go up certain roads. Home help carers are struggling to tend to their clients in the morning and evening. We have a serious problem. We need additional funding. Even before the war in Iran started, we had a serious issue with regard to roads funding in both counties.

We need additional funding in order to address that and I am heartened by the fact that the Minister of State will take the message back very strongly to the Minister that Cavan and Monaghan are two areas in particular that need special attention because of the condition of the local road network in both counties, unfortunately.

I thank the Senator. He mentioned Cavan and Monaghan. I come from a very rural part of north-west Cork as well so I understand the importance of the local and regional roads. It is crucially important, as we look at the economies of the local communities, cars and transport. We are a long way from public transport, as the Deputy alluded to in his statement. I take the point very seriously and we have to make sure that we have adequate funding in place, albeit that we have increased the funding again this year and over the past number of years for the local and regional roads. We are really trying to catch up and the Senator mentioned school buses, home helps and so forth, and the condition of the road. That is something I will reflect very carefully on because it is important that we can keep the wheels of the economy going in rural Ireland as well and that we protect it. We understand the challenges that are there and we protect it. There has been an increase in funding over the past number of years and again this year but the concerns are that the increase in funding is now going to be eroded by the effects of a war that we have no hand, act or part in. It is a serious concern as well. I will reflect on those and the Senator can rest assured that the Department of Transport, the Ministers and the whole of Government understand the challenges facing many and all communities across both urban and, in particular, rural Ireland, as the Senator alluded to in his statement.

Before we move to our final Commencement, we have a busy day in our Visitors' Galleries today. I welcome our distinguished guests to our Distinguished Visitors Gallery, and those in our Public Gallery as well. I see we are packed out with the St. Laurence's Boys' National School, Stillorgan. They are all very welcome guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Neale Richmond. Our Cathaoirleach always says that when you visit the Seanad, you have no homework for the rest of the day but I am mischievious as Acting Chair and I like to say no homework for the rest of the week. I hope that has not caused too much bother. I am getting a thumbs up from the teacher. Go raibh maith agaibh. Tá fáilte romhaibh go léir. I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay.

We will move to our final Commencement and An Seanadóir Chris Andrews.