Some people are paying twice to have roads fixed in rural areas as the local council 'isn't encouraged' to fill potholes on certain roads.

Independent Meath Councillor Gillian Toole was speaking to Henry McKean for Newstalk Breakfast about the extent of the problem in her area of Ratoath.

She said the catchment area has seen a "massive growth" in population.

"There are a lot of residents on back roads around the area known as Kilbride, areas at the front of their houses have been ploughed out of it, gouged out if it," she said.

"It's like a patchwork quilt here at the minute.

"This is actually a cul-de-sac with 20+ houses on it.

"All of the residents who would have paid contributions towards the public road network; it is a public road but it's a cul-de-sac."

A pothole on a cul-de-sac in Co Meath. Image: Newstalk/Henry McKean

Cllr Toole said said such roads are a 'grey area' when it comes to responsibility.

"The Department of Transport does not fund or encourage local authorities to fill potholes on cul-de-sacs despite them being public roads," she said.

"Through local improvement schemes, they want residents to contribute on top of the levies that they've paid."

Cllr Toole said the answer is more funding.

"There's plenty of funding for national roads [and] regional roads," she said.

"But they have to increase the funding specifically for the local road network, the local improvement schemes and the community involvement schemes to the point that residents should not be expected to contribute to those schemes".

Henry McKean shows a pothole on a cul-de-sac in Co Meath. Image: Newstalk/HenryMcKean

Cllr Toole said the roads are often dug up with a wide window for repairs.

"Utility companies get a licence from local authorities to open the riads to make connections and put in pipes, etc," she said.

"There's a window - they're not obliged, the repairs have to be made within two years.

"The crew are doing their best, they're making their repairs but it's a repetitive [process].

"We've a cycle lane that ends nowhere, we've a patchwork quilt again of sections that have been resurfaced".

Cllr Toole said the main street is due for a complete resurfacing but this has been delayed "because the council put in for urban regeneration funding for this entire junction".

Taking responsibility

87-year-old resident Anthony Wall said he has never seen the problem as bad.

"They're worse than the '40s or '50s," he said.

"There was certain people designated to do a job and they were conscious of doing it.

"They got it done with no fuss, a horse and cart and low wages."

He said he believes people are "passing the buck" with no one taking responsibility for the state of the roads.

"We pay our household tax, we pay our car tax to drive on the road but there's better conditions in third-world countries," he said.

Cllr Toole said they are carrying out a 'walkability study' on Monday April 22nd.

Main image: A pothole on a cul-de-sac in Co Meath. Image: Newstalk/Henry McKean