Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

This delivered the largest road modernisation programme in history, with approximately 200 kilometres of new motorway and 480 kilometres of new dual and single carriageways, and more in 2007 and 2009. Within a couple of months we will have all but 15 miles of a motorway from Cork to Dublin.

Garda numbers increased from 10,500 to 15,000. Income tax rates were significantly reduced, from 48% to 41% at the top rate, and 21% to 20% at the standard rate. More than 300,000 people were taken out of the tax net. A total of 10,000 new teaching posts were created, and 8,000 resource and learning support teachers, 10,000 special needs assistants and 45,000 more places in third level education were provided. Between 2002 and 2009 in east Cork alone more than €13 million was invested in sporting, recreational and community facilities and more than €7 million was invested in child care, elderly and youth services.

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