The transport minister has admitted there isn't enough money to maintain the standard of local and regional roads.

Shane Ross has conceded that half-a-billion euro in spending is needed every year to keep the roads in a so-called "steady state".

But the budget for those roads this year is just half that amount - and will only increase by 10 per cent next year.

Shane Ross admits it will some years before the roads receive enough funding to stop further deterioration: