County Tipperary has more than 5,900 km of road and, based on the current pavement surface condition index ratings, it would cost more than €300 million to bring all the road network to a good standard, that is to the Department's rating of at least seven. According to Department of Transport guidelines, Tipperary County Council should treat 5% of the road network or 295 km under the road improvement programme annually and another 5% under the road maintenance programme. That is a total of 590 km. In the past five years, the council has only been able to treat an average of 300 km each year, or 5.1%, only 50% of the Department's target. To achieve the 10% target, a doubling of the Government allocation from €23 million to €46 million would be required. The Department of Transport discretionary road grant has remained static since 2020 and the Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, grant has also plateaued. In the same period, from 2020 to 2025, costs have increased dramatically with road construction and road maintenance inflation of more 30%. The result is that the roads output has reduced by more than 20%. It also means that in a county with limited public transport where people need cars to go to school and work, roads have potholes and are substandard, with many stretches bordering on being unsafe. On top of this bad situation, things have become significantly worse due to the illegal US war on Iran. As the Tánaiste will be aware, fuel prices have gone through the roof and this will cost Tipperary County Council roads department a further €400,000 in 2026. Bitumen prices have similarly soared, costing the roads department an additional €410,000 in 2026. The price of stone, concrete and Macadam have also soared sharply. A further significant cost has arisen from the damage done to the road network during the severe winter, which cost the council more than €600,000. The council has lodged a submission with the Department of Transport seeking funding to cover this. Tipperary County Council roads department is urgently seeking funds to cover these unexpected costs of close to €1 million arising from the war in Iran and €600,000 for costs related to the severe winter weather.

Sentiment score: -0.01

I thank the Tánaiste. Good road conditions are vital for County Tipperary. It has limited public transport and is largely a rural county. People who work in any of our towns such as Clonmel, Tipperary town, Cashel, Cahir, Carrick-on-Suir, Thurles, Roscrea or Nenagh must drive to work and people who go to third level institutions in Clonmel or Thurles must drive. People who shop in any of those towns or go there for entertainment must drive. Poor quality road surfaces contribute to road traffic accidents causing injury and death. As I already said, road conditions have deteriorated in the past five years because of static Government grants and inflation. The war in Iran has increased costs significantly. Will the Tánaiste confirm whether Tipperary County Council will be compensated for those unexpected costs, which it has no control over?

Sentiment score: -0.02