Wicklow Receives €10.72 Million to Repair Roads Damaged by Storm Chandra

Wicklow has secured over €10 million in emergency funding to repair roads left devastated by January's Storm Chandra, as the Department of Transport announces a €40 million national package.

Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien today confirmed the allocation, with Wicklow among the biggest beneficiaries of the funding — receiving €10.72 million, the second largest county allocation in the country.

The money will be used by Wicklow County Council to restore regional and local roads across the county that were badly damaged during the January storm, which caused widespread destruction to infrastructure throughout the south and east of Ireland.

A Department of Transport assessment carried out in March 2026 revealed the full scale of the damage nationally, finding that 130 roads required complete reconstruction, with a further 440 sustaining significant damage. Several bridges were also damaged and rendered impassable in the storm's aftermath.

Fine Gael TD for Wicklow-Wexford Brian Brennan, who has been vocal in pushing for the allocation, welcomed the announcement. "I am delighted that this funding has been approved. The damage caused by Storm Chandra was unprecedented across the County and left a trail of devastation in its wake," he said.

Brennan said the financial burden of the storm damage would have placed serious pressure on local finances without the intervention. "The cost of repair of this damage is enormous and would put massive strain on the Council's already tight roads budget. I have been working closely with Emer O'Gorman, Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance and all relevant Departments to get this funding over the line and I am both delighted and relieved to see this allocation delivered."

The TD also called for a more efficient system for handling emergency funding applications in the future, noting that the current process had been drawn out and uncertain. "I will continue to call on the Departments involved to develop a more streamlined process for application for emergency funding for these extreme weather events, which unfortunately are happening on a more regular basis. It is unfair to ask a Local Authority to try to operate their roads budget with this uncertainty," he added.

Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow-Wexford Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin also welcomed the funding but struck a more cautious note, warning that the allocation does not cover the full extent of what is needed. The funding will be particularly important for badly affected areas in South Wicklow, including Tinahely, Carnew, Aughrim and Coolboy.

"I have repeatedly raised the issue of storm damage and the urgent need for adequate funding in Leinster House with the Minister for Transport. Local communities have been left dealing with dangerous and deteriorating road conditions for far too long, and it has taken sustained pressure to secure this investment," he said.

While acknowledging the announcement as a step in the right direction, the Deputy was clear that it falls short. "This announcement is positive and very much needed. However, the reality is that Wicklow requires an estimated €15 million to fully address the damage caused by Storm Chandra. This leaves a significant shortfall that cannot be ignored."

Ó Súilleabháin called on the Government to commit to bridging the gap. "The Government must commit to bridging this gap and ensuring that all affected roads are brought back to a safe and proper standard. Rural communities in particular cannot be left behind when it comes to infrastructure and road safety."

He added: "While this funding will go a long way towards improving conditions for road users across Wicklow, more must be done to ensure every community affected by Storm Chandra receives the investment it needs."

The South and East were identified as among the worst affected regions nationally, which is reflected in the county-by-county breakdown of the €40 million package. Wexford received the largest single allocation at €13.49 million, with Wicklow close behind. The remaining funding was distributed to Waterford (€5.53m), Kilkenny (€3.46m), Carlow (€2.79m), Tipperary (€1.11m), Laois and Louth (€1m each), and Monaghan (€90,000).

The funding will allow Wicklow County Council to "undertake necessary work to restore these regional and local roads" to a safe and passable condition.