Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow John Brady has welcomed the recent unanimous decision from Wicklow County councillors to demand additional funding from Government to address the scale of road damage across the county following recent storms, although he noted that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil councillors should also be raising the issue directly with Tánaiste Simon Harris and their party colleagues in Government.
Teachta Brady said:
“Wicklow County Council is facing an estimated €15.6 million bill for road repairs following the damage caused by Storm Chandra. Councillors have rightly highlighted the scale of destruction caused to roads across the county, particularly in parts of west Wicklow where flooding and severe weather caused extensive damage.
“At the very same time that the council is facing this enormous repair bill, the Government has actually reduced Wicklow’s roads funding.
“In 2025, Wicklow received €15,202,800 in funding for regional and local roads. This year that allocation has been reduced to €14,908,200 – a cut of €294,600.
“Given the current condition of many roads across Wicklow, and the additional damage caused by recent storms, any reduction in funding is completely unacceptable.
“This is an issue that I have raised in the Dáil on numerous occasions and as recently as the last few days.
“While it is welcome that all councillors are acknowledging the serious challenges facing Wicklow’s road network and the massive repair costs now facing the council – the reality is however that it is Government that holds the purse strings.
“For that reason, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil councillors should be lifting the phone, raising their concerns and putting maximum pressure on their party colleagues in Government.
“Simon Harris is the Tánaiste and a Wicklow TD — if Government councillors are serious about securing the funding Wicklow needs, then they should be demanding answers directly from him and pressing the Government to reverse this decision.
“Motorists across Wicklow are dealing with deteriorating road surfaces, potholes and damaged infrastructure every single day. People are seeing cars damaged, tyres blown out and costly repairs simply because roads are not being properly maintained.
“This is not just an inconvenience, it is a road safety issue and a cost-of-living issue for families already under financial pressure.
“People in Wicklow deserve safe roads and proper investment in the infrastructure they rely on every day. The Government must reverse this cut and provide the level of funding Wicklow actually requires.”
ENDS