'Ludicrous' delay in announcing Kilkenny budget for road works

The budget for road repairs and safety works in Kilkenny needs to be known ‘a hell of a lot sooner’ every year.

That’s the demand of local councillors who have agreed to write to the Minister for Transport with their request to speed up the funding process.

While Kilkenny County Council met this month to agree its budget for 2026, the final sum that the council and each municipal district will have to spend will not be known until February.

Discussing the progress of road repairs and safety schemes at the recent Callan Thomastown municipal district meeting, Cllr Deirdre Cullen pointed out that council crews are still trying to finish road projects, through no fault of their own, but because work can’t start until several months into the year.

“It seems to me absolutely ridiculous that, year on year, we are not told until February (what the final budget is),” Cllr Cullen said.

The figure is made known to the council in February and a programme of works approved by councillors the following month.

“You’re still finishing Low Cost Safety Schemes and it’s November. It’s not a reflection on (Declan Murphy, area engineer) or the council crews. The work has to be done by the end of the year,” Cllr Cullen added.

“I propose we write to the minister and ask that the announcement of funding be made a hell of a lot sooner, so that Declan can get cracking straight after Christmas.

“And if it can’t be announced before February, ask why is it that we have to wait two months into the year?

“It doesn’t make any sense to me. It’s ludicrous.”

District chairman, Cllr Joe Lyons, agreed Cllr Cullen had a ‘very good point’ and seconded her proposal to write to the minister.

The delay in knowing the budget ‘does hinder’ works, he said.

Area engineer Mr Murphy said that: “like anything, if we have more time we can be better prepared.”