Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste will recall that for almost three years I have been raising with him, the former Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar and the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, the need to provide additional funding for the non-national road network. I accept that each year the Government has increased funding but it is not adequate to meet the additional costs that have been incurred due to the war Mr. Putin inflicted on Ukraine and the resultant increase in energy costs. Incessant rain for most of the past 12 months is continuing to exacerbate the problems on roads, both those that were in good condition and roads that had deteriorated. We now have a situation where roads have deteriorated very rapidly. The funding allocated this year to local authorities, such as in counties Cavan and Monaghan, is not nearly sufficient to carry out a proper road works programme for 2024. It is important that at this stage in the year, the Minister for Transport allocates additional funding to counties such as Cavan and Monaghan so that we can bring roads up to a standard that the people deserve and are entitled to. These people are working day in and day out paying their taxes. Because they live in a rural area does not mean they should not be entitled to a proper road network. I implore the Tánaiste to make progress on this matter without further delay

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