Waterford TD David Cullinane has criticised what he describes as an unacceptable overall cut to the county’s 2026 roads funding, warning that Waterford is once again “being asked to do more with less.”

New figures show a reduction of almost €830,000 in national roads funding this year, alongside a further €380,000 cut to local and regional roads allocations.

Cullinane said the combined reductions represent a major setback for a county that already struggles to secure adequate infrastructure investment.

While he welcomed the €1.1 million assigned to progress works on the N24 and N25, he argued that the funding “falls well short” of what is required to deliver full upgrades on these strategic routes.

He criticised what he called repeated “phased announcements” that fail to deliver meaningful progress, noting that other counties continue to advance major road schemes at pace.

“At a time when road safety, connectivity and regional balance should be priorities, our allocation is moving in the wrong direction,” he said.

Cullinane confirmed that he and fellow Sinn Féin TD Conor D. McGuinness will continue to raise the issue with the Minister for Transport and Transport Infrastructure Ireland, insisting that Waterford needs sustained, long-term investment rather than incremental funding.

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