Keeping Ireland moving
Potholes, resurfacing works, winter gritting – road maintenance affects all of us, whether we’re motorists, cyclists or pedestrians. But who is responsible for keeping our roads in good shape? And how do they decide what work to prioritise?
Here's a quick guide to how road maintenance works, and the role your local authority plays in keeping Ireland moving.
Ireland has over 93,000 kilometers of public roads, knitting together communities, towns and cities. Well over half of these are local roads, making the local roads network one of the most important assets managed by local authorities.
Who manages the roads?
Local roads are the responsibility of local authorities. That includes day to day repairs, resurfacing works, drainage and winter maintenance. National roads and motorways are managed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), although local authorities often carry out work on their behalf.
Road maintenance isn’t just about fixing potholes (although that is a part of it). Local authorities carry out different types of work depending on the condition of the road. This can include:
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Patching and repairs – quick fixes for damaged sections
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Resurfacing – replacing the top layer to improve grip and extend life
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Drainage works – preventing flooding and water damage
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Road markings and signage – keeping roads safe and easy to navigate
How road maintenance is prioritised
Local authorities inspect roads regularly and also respond to reports from the public. Roads are rated according to their condition, and work is prioritised for roads in the worst shape and roads that need to handle a lot of traffic. In winter, local authorities grit key routes to keep them safe in icy weather. It’s not feasible to grit all roads, so priority is given to roads that get a lot of traffic and roads that enable access to hospitals and schools.
Funding for road maintenance
Most road maintenance is funded by the Department of Transport through annual grants to local authorities. Local authorities also contribute from their own budgets. In order to ensure the funding is used efficiently and delivers best value for road users, the work is prioritised carefully.
If you see damage on your local road you can report it to your local authority. Check the contact details for your local authority on our Find My Local Authority page.
Resources
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For more details on road maintenance in Ireland, visit our Roads and Transport services page.
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Report damaged roads to your local authority via the Find My Local Authority page.
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For details on national roads and motorways visit the TII's website.
- The Road Management Office (RMO) is a local authority shared service that helps local authorities manage roads by developing and sharing best practices and tools. You can learn more about them on the RMO website.