Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has launched a new roads maintenance strategy that responds to long-standing concerns raised by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council about underfunding in the area.

The council was the only local authority to formally respond to the department’s consultation, and its submission is referenced throughout the final strategy. It highlighted that the district recorded the lowest expenditure per kilometre on roads 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 are affecting its extensive rural road network and expressed particular concern that U-class roads make up 59 per cent of the district’s network but are not included in official condition data. It argued that these minor routes should be added to baseline assessments and annual condition reports.

The submission also drew attention to the disproportionately high fatality rate on the A5. While the road represents just 0.32 per cent of Northern Ireland’s road network, it accounted for 10.9 per cent of road deaths in 2022.

The Department for Infrastructure said the strategy recognises long-term funding pressures and commits to developing a business case for multi-year investment aimed at placing roads maintenance on a more sustainable footing. It prioritises higher-quality, longer-lasting repairs, improved risk management and greater use of technology to monitor the condition of the network.

On the A5, the strategy states that it supports work to address high-risk corridors, and while major upgrade schemes remain outside its scope, targeted maintenance and data-led prioritisation will help build the case for future capital investment.

Launching the strategy, Ms Kimmins said the new approach would focus on delivering higher-quality, timely and more durable maintenance where it is needed most, supported by the latest technology to monitor road conditions.