Northern Ireland's Department for Infrastructure oversees the construction and maintenance of all roads north of the Border, including local roads. Sinn Féin minister Liz Kimmins has cited insufficient funding from the UK as the cause of ongoing road maintenance problems.

The Northern Ireland Executive receives funding allocated to match service standards in England, adjusted for local needs and costs, as determined by independent economic experts.

Road maintenance issues extend south of the Border, where councils handle much of the responsibility. The Republic's central government provided councils with a supplementary grant of €1.5 billion for road maintenance this year, an increase of 13 per cent from the previous year.

Public choice theory in economics examines how politicians and bureaucrats prioritise projects based on factors such as power, status, and budget size. This approach often leads to emphasis on large-scale prestige initiatives over routine tasks like pothole repairs.

Pothole fixes typically occur on an ad hoc basis using in-year spare funds and small contractors. Such work does not enhance officials' sense of importance.

Inertia also affects road repairs, as organising numerous minor fixes requires significant administrative effort compared to budget rollovers.

Public choice theory holds that structural changes or personnel replacements do not resolve these issues. It advocates incorporating high-standard maintenance into regular budgets while preventing diversions of funds.

The theory anticipates private sector lobbying for long-term maintenance contracts, which officials may approve to elevate routine tasks to notable decisions. About one-third of the Republic's motorways operate under such contracts.