A significant roads funding package for 2026, announced in February 2026, has been outlined for Tipperary, covering both regional/local roads and national roads.
Regional & Local Roads (Tipperary County Council): €49,379,670.
The largest share of the allocation is directed toward the day-to-day upkeep and long-term resilience of the county’s regional and local network.
Over last weekend, you’d be forgiven for thinking Thurles, Co. Tipperary, had been abandoned, judging by the state of our streets. Once again we’re driving on loose gravel, while yesterday’s potholes are “repaired” with cold tarmac tipped straight into puddles, as if water were a suitable foundation.
Worse than that, a drain cover was left open since last Thursday, near to the junction at Bowe’s corner; the grate cover having been dislodged in direct line with vehicle wheels. (See picture featured hereunder.)
Pic 2 Right: On Barry’s Bridge, once again, a sinking surface, as 18 wheelers bounce over a raised pedestrian platform.
Pictures: G.Willoughby.
Picture: G. Willoughby.
“Protection & Renewal”: €36,234,670.
Within the regional and local roads budget, €36,234,670 is assigned to Protection & Renewal. This funding supports a wide range of works and programmes, including:
- restoration, improvement, and maintenance works
- discretionary schemes
- bridges and structures
- drainage projects
- road safety measures
- climate adaptation works
- community involvement initiatives (and other related supports)
National Roads (Tipperary): €8,360,343.
In addition, €8,360,343 has been allocated for national roads within Tipperary, supporting key routes that play a major role in commuting, freight, and regional connectivity.
A Combined Local Package of Approximately €57.7m.
Taken together, the figures referenced locally bring the overall roads investment package for Tipperary to around €57.7 million for 2026.
National Context: Over €1.5bn for Roads in 2026.
For broader context, the Department of Transport has stated that more than €1.5 billion was provided nationally in 2026 for national roads and regional/local roads, placing the Tipperary allocation within a substantial nationwide investment programme.
Amazing how it was such a struggle to bring this road fundings on stream for Thurles and the general Tipperary area, although this is all welcome. One could have been fooled into thinking that a lot of money had already been allocated to Thurles, what with the amount of money that went into the “tightening” of junctions and the streets leading up to them, or was this just to twart the artic drivers and the cyclists who have to try to navigate these corners. Lets hope that the road engineers who have learned it all out of books might ask the opinion of a HGV driver or a seasoned cyclist about leaving a bit of space here and there.
It’s a well-known rule of engineering Luke; if self-employment doesn’t work out, the County Council will always have a hi-vis vest waiting. If their freelance dream collapses, don’t worry, there’s a County Council desk with their name already engraved. Where else can you waste tapayers money, for God’s sake?