The Transport Minister Shane Ross has admitted there is not enough money to maintain the standard of local and regional roads.

Mr Ross has conceded that half-a-billion euro in spending is needed every year to keep the roads in a so-called “steady state”.

However, the budget for those roads this year is just half that amount, and will only increase by 10% next year.

The Minister admits it will be some years before the roads receive enough funding to stop further deterioration.

Mr Ross said: “It will reach a steady state condition by 2020, and we are going to be short of a steady state condition until 2020.

“It’s regrettable, but it’s not something which we can resolve without more funds.”