Northern Ireland's Public Accounts Committee has found that utility companies perform over 50,000 road openings each year, with the number reaching 55,000 in 2023-24. These works for gas, electricity, water and telecommunications require road reinstatements by the companies.

The Department for Infrastructure cannot calculate the maintenance costs tied to these reinstatements or confirm that utility firms cover all related expenses. Chair Daniel McCrossan MLA stated officials lacked a method to measure the burden from utility-linked road deterioration and could not assure taxpayers avoid subsidizing those repairs.

Core tests on reinstatements show failure rates above 10 percent, even though over 90 percent pass visual inspections. Warranties last two years for shallow work and three years for deeper excavations, but structural issues often appear after four or five years.

The committee identified more than 3.3 billion pounds in outstanding road maintenance. Inspectors recorded 91,715 surface defects in 2024-25, or about 250 daily. Road spending totals 466 million pounds in 2024-25, including 136 million pounds for structural maintenance.

Deputy Chair Tom Buchanan MLA noted inspection targets missed for seven years and suspension of core testing programs. The committee recommends a cost assessment model by early autumn, warranty review in six months, performance penalties, published utility data and an action plan in 12 months.

Staff shortages in technical roles limit in-depth inspections. The committee called for better public reporting systems and enforcement against poor performers.