Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has introduced a new roads maintenance strategy that addresses long-standing funding concerns highlighted by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.

The council, which was the only local authority to submit a formal response to the department’s consultation, raised several issues in its submission. It noted that the district received the lowest expenditure per kilometre on road maintenance in Northern Ireland during 2022/23, at £5,937, compared with a regional average of £10,373.

The council warned that years of underinvestment have taken a toll on its extensive rural network. It also expressed concern that U-class roads, which make up 59 per cent of the district’s roads, are not included in official condition assessments. The submission argued that these roads should be incorporated into baseline and annual reporting.

A further concern was the high number of fatalities on the A5. According to the council, the road represents just 0.32 per cent of Northern Ireland’s network but accounted for 10.9 per cent of road deaths in 2022.

The Department for Infrastructure stated that the strategy acknowledges the long-term funding pressures and commits to producing a business case for multi-year investment. It says the approach will give priority to longer-lasting repairs, better risk management and increased use of technology to monitor road surfaces.

On the A5, the strategy supports targeted maintenance and safety improvements along high-risk corridors. While major upgrade schemes fall outside its scope, the document says that data-led prioritisation will help strengthen the case for future capital investment on strategic routes.

Speaking at the launch, Ms Kimmins said the new direction would aim for more durable and timely repairs where they are most needed, supported by modern monitoring technology.