North Meath roads at ‘breaking point’ as locals consider fixing potholes themselves
Road users in North Meath have reached “breaking point” as deteriorating road conditions continue to pose safety risks, a local TD has said.
Sinn Féin TD for Meath West, Johnny Guirke, has criticised what he described as a lack of investment from both local and national government, warning that roads in the area are falling into further disrepair.
“The condition of our roads across North Meath has reached an unacceptable level of disrepair. Residents and road users are dealing with dangerous potholes, deteriorating surfaces, and a lack of proper maintenance of these roads daily. These roads now pose a very real risk to the safety of drivers,” he said.
“I have been working on this issue for the past twelve years, consistently raising concerns and pushing for action. Despite repeated representations, the situation on the ground continues to worsen.”
“This is simply not good enough for the people of North Meath, who deserve safe and reliable infrastructure. People in the area have become so frustrated and worried that they have discussed organising into local groups to fill these potholes themselves.”
“It is outrageous that people who work hard and pay their road tax have become so neglected by national and local government that they feel there is no other option but to repair essential road infrastructure themselves, which is supposed to be maintained by local authorities.”
The issue has also been raised by local councillors at the Kells Municipal District meetings. At the February meeting, councillors welcomed the Meath County Council Works Programme, which will see €7.7m spent on regional and local roads in the Kells electoral area this year.
Mr Guirke said recent increases in funding for roads in the county were insufficient to address the scale of the issue.
“The recent measly increase in funding allocated to roads in County Meath is completely inadequate. It does not come close to addressing the scale of the problem we are facing. Decades of underinvestment have left our road network in a dire state, and small patchwork repairs are merely putting a plaster on the problem.”
He called for significant and sustained investment to improve road safety across the region.
“What is needed now is significant and sustained investment in our roads. Anything less will only prolong the hardship faced by communities across North Meath.”
"I, along with my colleagues Cllr Peter Caffrey and Cllr Michael Gallagher, will continue to press for the funding and resources necessary to bring our roads up to a safe and acceptable standard,” he added.