Ministers for Transport announce over €1.5 billion for national, regional and local roads

Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, Minister of State with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney and Minister of State with responsibility for Rural Transport Jerry Buttimer today announced that the Department of Transport will provide over €1.5 billion in exchequer funding for national, regional and local roads in 2026. This represents a 13% increase in road funding over 2025.

The almost €800 million allocation for national roads includes:

€659 million in exchequer capital funding through Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII)
€104 million for national roads under Public Private Partnerships
approximately €33 million for regular maintenance of national roads, provided to local authorities.

TII will allocate funding to protect and renew the existing national road network across the country, funding road safety improvements, pavement and bridge renewal, and climate-resilience measures. It will also progress the new national road projects identified in the National Development Plan and the Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport, including the Adare Bypass, N5 Ballaghaderreen-Scramoge, and M28 Cork- Ringaskiddy.

The €718 allocation for regional and local roads will allow approximately 2,800kms of roads to be maintained and 2,330kms to be improved. The funding includes:

€50 million for strategic road improvement projects, including projects identified for development under the National Development Plan.
€20 million in Specific Grants for smaller scale road improvements, including: bridgeworks; safety measures such as junction reconfiguration; and schemes to alleviate traffic congestion in towns. Funded projects in 2026 include: the safety scheme on the R332 Kilbannon, Co. Galway; the rehabilitation of Archdeacon Duggan Bridge in Co. Cork; and the Kilkelly Relief Road in County Mayo. A total of 99 projects in this category will be funded in 2026.
€16.5 million for 294 projects under the Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Programme
€14 million for 280 low-cost road safety projects, targeting remedial measures to improve road safety for vulnerable road users and vehicular traffic.

Minister O’Brien said:
"Advancing the new national road projects in the current National Development Plan and the Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport is a priority for this government, along with the protection and renewal of the existing national, regional and local road network. Government is committed to assisting affected local authorities with financial support to assist with the aftermath of Storm Chandra. My Department is liaising with affected counties, who are continuing to compile and assess damage on the ground to enable proper estimation of the total damage caused and the estimated cost of remediation.

“The allocations I’m announcing today will enable multiple major new road projects on the national road network to progress, including those that are at or are close to construction. This will enable greater connectivity across our country, support economic development, and deliver safer roads and less congested towns and communities.

“Projects such as the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge, the M28 and the Adare Bypass, which are currently in construction, demonstrate the clear commitment to the ongoing development of our national road network. Taken together with the new road projects which are at an earlier stage of the project lifecycle, an increased number of new national roads projects have been allocated funding this year."

“A new two-year work programme under the Community Involvement Scheme for regional and local roads is starting this year with €16.2 million being allocated to the scheme in 2026. This is an increase of €1.4 million in funding from last year, upholding the Programme for Government commitment to increase funding for the Community Involvement Scheme.”

Minister Canney said:
“Today’s funding allocations ensures that our primary focus of protecting and maintaining the existing road network so that it remains safe, resilient and capable of meeting the needs of all road users - including freight operators, public transport, and other road users - is to the fore. This funding also supports essential road safety improvements, which are critical to delivering our Road Safety Strategy. Over recent decades, substantial investment has been made in the regional and local road network, strengthening regional connectivity and supporting economic growth across the country.”

“Reducing speed limits and making roads safer, in support of the Government commitment of Vision Zero, remains a priority. The Department of Transport will also continue to offer grant assistance to local authorities for the implementation of reduced speed limits as per the speed limit review.”

Minister Buttimer said:
“As Minister with responsibility for Rural Transport, I recognise the critical role played by the regional and local road network in ensuring that all parts of Ireland are connected. A safe and efficient road network enables those living in rural communities to connect to work, education and healthcare. In addition, it also facilitates the improved bus services that operate across rural Ireland. The funding announced today will help to protect and enhance this vital national asset for all our citizens."

“The allocation of €718 million for regional and local roads will strengthen and support towns, villages, and communities right across the country. It’s an investment that will improve connectivity, help local businesses thrive, and make everyday journeys to school, work, and community activities safer and more convenient for families.”

TII Chief Executive Lorcan O’Connor, said:
“Annual funding provided by the Government for the national road network assures all road users that standards will be maintained. Additionally, the annual investment in the national road network enables economic growth by facilitating the safe and efficient movement of people, goods and services throughout the island of Ireland. TII will continue to work in partnership with all Local Authorities in delivering these needed improvements.”

Notes for Editors:

The Regional and Local Roads allocations can be downloaded from the Press Releases section of https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-transport/

National Roads allocations can be downloaded from tii.ie

National roads projects funded include:

N2 Ardee to South of Castleblaney
N2 Clontibret to the Border
N2 Rath Roundabout to Kilmoon Cross
N2 Slane Bypass
N3 Virginia Bypass
N4 Carrick-on-Shannon to Dromod
N4 Mullingar to Longford
N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge
N6 Galway City Ring Road
N11/N25 Oilgate to Rosslare
N17 Knock to Collooney
N/M20 Cork to Limerick
N21 Abbeyfeale Relief Road
N21 Newcastle West Relief Road
N21/69 Limerick to Foynes (including Adare Bypass)
N22 Farranfore to Killarney
N24 Cahir to Limerick Junction (including Tipperary Bypass)
N24 Waterford to Cahir
N25 Carrigtwohill to Midleton
N25 Midleton to Youghal (Castlemartyr and Killeagh Bypasses)
N25 Waterford to Glenmore
M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy
N52 Ardee Bypass
N52 Tullamore to Kilbeggan
N58 Foxford Bypass
N59 Clifden to Maam Cross
N72/73 Mallow Relief Road
Cork City Northern Transport Project
Donegal TEN-T Route Improvement Project

The main features of the 2026 investment programme for Regional and Local roads include:

€350m for road pavement strengthening works;
€77m for preventative surface dressing work;
€86m for maintenance and strengthening works for which local authorities have discretion in the selection of roads;
€70m for Specific and Strategic Regional and Local Roads Projects;
€18m for bridge rehabilitation works;
€14m for safety improvement works;
€18m for drainage works;
€16.2m for Community Involvement Schemes;
€16.5m for climate change adaptation/resilience works;
€12m for Strategic Rehabilitation Regional Road; and
Miscellaneous grants are also provided during the year for a number of projects and pilot initiatives including speed limits, salt purchase, training, asset management and conducting pavement surveys.

Eight NDP projects have been completed to date and other strategic projects currently at construction stage include:

o Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road

o Tralee Northern Relief Road

o R498 Nenagh/Thurles (Latteragh) Upgrade

o Athenry Relief Road

In line with established practice, local authorities are advised each year by the Department to set aside a minimum of 10% contingency from their annual Discretionary Grant allocation to deal with severe weather events and damage to the network as they arise.

Published: 17.02.2026 - Ministers for Transport announce over €1.5 billion for national, regional, and local roads Press Release.