€26m to improve both local and regional roads across the county

Meath Co Council is set to receive over €26million in the coming year to improve both local and regional roads.

Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan and Minister of State, Jack Chambers has announced a total of €626 million under the investment programme nationally for 2023 for regional and local roads.

This represents an increase in funding of €20million for road pavement and rehabilitation works on last year.

Minister Thomas Byrne welcomed the news: “Our main priority in 2023 continues to be the protection and renewal of the existing regional and local road network because that is the one thing you don’t curtail. It makes more sense to protect and repair our roads quickly rather than letting them fall into more expensive disrepair.

“This is positive news for all road users in county Meath. Unfortunately the road network has taken quite a battering over recent months with bad weather. This allocation of funding will go a long way in addressing these problems."

Meanwhile, an allocation of €407,406 has been announced for rural roads in Meath, as part of €12.5million in funding across the country under the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys announced the funding for repairs and improvement works on rural roads and laneways.

The funding will support the continued improvement of non-public roads and lanes that are not normally maintained by the local authorities.

The investment is key to supporting vital road infrastructure in rural communities, as well as providing access to homes, farms and outdoor amenities such as lakes, rivers and beaches.

For the first time under the scheme, the Minister announced the ring-fencing of €500,000 to support rural roads on our offshore islands.

Minister Humphreys said: “I am delighted to announce €12.55 million in funding to improve hundreds of roads and laneways in towns and villages across Rural Ireland.

“Local connectivity is absolutely vital for our rural communities and this investment will benefit the lives of families in every single county.

“We all know parts of rural Ireland that can be difficult to access because the road or laneway is in need of repair.

“The Local Improvement Scheme is about making people’s lives that bit easier, ensuring we have good access to homes, farms and our local amenities.

“This is what ‘Our Rural Future’ is all about – ensuring more and more people can live work and raise a family in rural communities throughout Ireland.”

Minister Humphreys said that since this scheme was reintroduced in 2017, over 3,700 roads have been funded for repair works.

"This has made a real difference to the lives of over 16,000 landowners and residents.