Road signs damaged by Storm Éowyn sending tourists and motorists in wrong direction, senator says

Fine Gael senator Gareth Scahill said the issue goes beyond signage, pointing to the worsening condition of road markings and the growing number of potholes

Sun, 22 Mar, 2026 - 19:01

Paul Hosford

Road signs damaged by Storm Éowyn last year are sending tourists and motorists in the wrong direction, a senator has claimed.

Storm Éowyn, one of the most destructive storms in recent memory, struck between January 23 and 25 last year, with record-breaking winds and torrential rain causing widespread devastation and damaging critical infrastructure, leaving 768,000 homes, schools, farms, and businesses without power — some for almost three weeks.

Another impact, according to Fine Gael senator Gareth Scahill, is that road signs have been left pointing in the wrong direction.

“This extends beyond storm damage, with road signs suffering from poor maintenance with many obscured and difficult to read,” Mr Scahill added

“There’s another busy tourism season coming this summer, and it is essential that signs are visible, legible, and pointing in the right direction. Local authorities need to be encouraged to make an extra effort in the coming months, this is a matter of road safety.”

He said the issue goes beyond signage, pointing to the worsening condition of road markings and the growing number of potholes.

“Faded road markings are becoming a serious hazard, particularly at night and during poor weather. Centre lines, stop lines, and pedestrian crossings are disappearing in many areas, leaving drivers without the guidance they rely on.”

Maintenance and improvement

In response, the Department of Transport said it has provided a grant allocation of €718.67m to local authorities in 2026 for the ongoing maintenance and improvement of the regional and local road network.

“Local authorities are also required to allocate a contingency sum from their ‘discretionary grant’ for costs associated with remedial works that may arise as a result of damage caused due to severe weather conditions, including storms and high-wind events. This can include repairs to damaged or displaced road signs.”

The department said that the expected lifespan of road signs is in the order of 15-20 years, with warranties on retroreflective sign-face materials generally extended to 12 years.

“Many of the signs on the national road are currently nearing end-of-life. To address this issue, TII [Transport Infrastructure Ireland] has commenced a road traffic sign lifecycle replacement programme whereby all of the signs on the network are being assessed and replaced as necessary over the next number of years.”

The department said that road markings and studs are “subject to constant attrition from passing traffic and weather”, and the typical lifespan of thermoplastic road markings is five to seven years depending on the nature of the road and the volumes of traffic on it.