LATEST: Soaring costs posing a threat to Council's roadworks plans

The ongoing war in Iran and blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is resulting in soaring construction and materials inflation which may threaten local authority projects across North Tipperary.

That was the stark message heard by North Tipperary Councillors at their April monthly meeting of the Municipal Council for the Thurles, Roscrea and Templemore areas on Monday.

Rising costs are now being felt at local authority level with a council official warning several departments are "coming under pressure."

District Engineer Thomas Duffy said contractors have recently announced price increases that will affect roadworks across the MD. The cost of tarmacadam has soared, he explained.

"We were lucky we started early this year" he told the meeting, with road maintenance crews out early in 2026 despite poor weather. However, he added that suppliers have since notified the council of "uplift prices," which will drive up the overall cost of these works.

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He said that it has to be acknowledge that due to this there will be "resulting budgetary pressures" on the Municipal District when funding such projects.

"It will have an effect on our works and what we can achieve," he said, adding that the District was "already under pressure."

"As you can all feel it out there, we’re starting to feel it in here," he said 

He said the department had been "under notice" of price increases from suppliers, with the potential for further rises "depending on circumstances."