Ireland’s rural road network is in extremely poor condition following a difficult winter, according to Independent TD Mattie McGrath.

He told the Irish Farmers Journal that €200m – two-thirds of the current national annual budget – is needed for remedial works on roads in his native Tipperary alone.

Underspending

There was a cut of 40% in the roads budget back in 2008, and a decade of underspending has left its legacy.

There are 99,000km of roads in Ireland, twice the European average per head of population.

Fianna Fáil estimates that the current budget allocation of €322m is little more than half of the €580m needed.