Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Chairman already addressed the concerns about the necessity for funding of which the Minister is well aware as a result of the recent storms. In terms of general maintenance of the road network, the considerable reduction in funding to this area is leading to a pent-up problem that will surface in the near future because the NRA and local authorities are not in a position to maintain roads the way they would. While I am not an engineer, the view of those to whom I have spoken is that it will cost a great deal more to bring the roads back to the level at which they were if this continuous reduction in maintenance funds is sustained. As the Minister will be aware, there was a rolling programme that saw roads maintained on a seven-year cycle and now it is being extended. The previous Government did it too. It will demand a much heavier level of investment in the not-too-distant future, particularly if the Minister is to ensure that the roads remain safe and viable. Has he any thoughts about that? If so, he might share them with us.