Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. There is no doubt that the adverse weather conditions have had a detrimental effect on our local and regional roads and the Minister of State accepts this. I understand and accept that €650 million has been allocated towards the road network but it is simply not good enough. I appreciate that the Minister of State has been handed his statement by the Department of Transport. However, with respect, the time for talking about this is over. I have raised this at numerous Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party meetings. I have raised it directly with Deputy Micheál Martin, who said he is going to liaise with the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, on the issue. I am sure the Acting Chairperson will fully agree with me on this. The time for talking is over. We need an emergency fund to address the condition of our local and regional roads. To put it mildly, it is not fair that we expect our citizens to travel on some of these roads on a daily basis. It is simply not good enough at a time when our economy is thankfully performing well and we are able to put billions of euro away for a rainy day fund. This is a critical issue that needs addressing. I repeat that the time for talking is over. I respectfully suggest that the Minister of State go back to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, with the message that as far as we are concerned in rural Ireland, we need investment in our local and regional roads because they are the only show in town for us. As I said in my opening contribution, we cannot control climate but we can control the budget and the allocation. I am pleading with the Minister of State, respectfully, to take that message back to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan.