Reporting problems with pavements and maintenance of private streets

Roads Service is responsible for maintaining adopted roads (including footpaths and verges), including making sure they are free from obstructions. On a private street, responsibility for maintenance lies with its owners.

What Roads Service can do

Roads Service is responsible for making sure pavements are free from trip hazards and other defects as far as reasonably practical to ensure public safety.

Roads Service is not, however, responsible for maintaining a ‘private street’. The responsibility for private streets lies with the street owners, usually the developer or those who live on the street. However, if a problem is thought to be a 'danger' (for example, a deep hole in the road suddenly appearing) Roads Service may arrange to make it safe by placing barriers or road closures around the hazard. Roads Service may subsequently seek to recover costs from the owner if possible.

Permanent repairs are then carried out by the owner or owners.

Reporting damaged pavements

Roads, footways or verges may become damaged due to wear and tear, vandalism or a utility company, such as a gas or telecoms company, carrying out works. In the latter case, these companies are responsible for providing a safe route for pedestrians and other traffic to pass. They are also responsible for making sure the pavement is left in good condition after the work is completed.

You can report a fault to Roads Service online, by e-mail, in writing or in person to the relevant office or by telephone.

Getting a private street adopted by the Roads Service

You may be able to apply to get a private street adopted by Roads Service providing it is at or is brought up to an acceptable standard.

If you live on an existing private street and would like Roads Service to take on responsibility for maintenance, you can apply to the Department to have your road adopted. The Department may consider private streets/footways for adoption where:

the majority of owners whose properties front onto the road or street request it
the roads or streets are first brought to adoption standard at the expense of the owner/s
the Department is of the opinion that the street should become a public road

In considering such requests, Roads Service must be satisfied that inclusion of an area into the public network is in the public interest, bearing in mind the cost implications for future maintenance.

For more information on how to apply for a road to be adopted please contact Roads Service: