Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the response. The Minister does not need to be told she is from a fairly rural constituency. Even in the part of the world I am from - although I cover the northern part of Cork city - there is a large rural hinterland. We had a tough enough couple of months during the summer. It was very wet. Many roads are in a state of disrepair. It is great to see that Cork County Council is on track to draw down that full allocation, as the Minister has assured me in her response. I look forward to that being drawn down. The Minister knows the importance of the scheme. Even in my days as a county councillor on Cork County Council, it was very important to get out among people and offer this alternative to people because, as the Minister knows, these are private roads in most circumstances.

I will touch on a couple of other local authorities. I understand that Kerry and Galway have been inundated with applications. I think in the case of Galway there is a waiting list of two years to get on the scheme in that county. Deputy Healy-Rae was quoted as saying here one evening that there are approximately 800 applications in Kerry that are also on a waiting list. I will therefore impress on the Minister that if further funding was to be allocated or to become available that those counties that are proactive in compiling lists are considered. While some have compiled lists and while some have extensive waiting lists, I have also read in the media that when the call-out goes out, many counties do not draw down the full amount. It is imperative that all counties that are allocated moneys would draw those down.

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