Varadkar diverts €40m from road building to repairs

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has ordered a halt to new road construction and diverted €40m in existing funds for the repair of damaged routes.

The Fine Gael minister also called on certain local authorities to take more responsibility for carrying out emergency repairs on roads, rather than relying on direct central government grants.

“It’s obvious to anyone who lives or drives through rural areas that some road surfaces are in need of repair. As well as the usual winter damage, increasing rainfall levels have caused significant damage in recent years. Surface water is a particular problem because it undermines roads and causes potholes.”