The Transport Minister is being called on to allow vital road projects to go ahead, following a directive that money only be spent on planning and design of roads.

That's the plea from Fianna Fáil's Spokesperson for Transport, who says Eamon Ryan's decision to block 10 road projects is causing a lot of ''angst'' in rural communities.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland has been given 146 million euro in funding for new roads this year in Mayo, Westmeath, Dublin, Kerry, Cork and Louth.