Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We cannot build houses because the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government has four stages in terms of getting approval, and one must climb that ladder. It will not agree to anything sent to it during those stages. It can take months or a year. There should be one design for a four, three, two or one bedroom, and if the money is available, give it to us and let us build them. The same applies to the road.

The witnesses highlighted the issues with nature conservation. In terms of getting the funding, we were in line to get funding for the Macroom bypass in 2007. We have dealt with the issue of the snail. Last year, we were told that we were close to getting funding. We were told the other day that it would be 2022 before we got it. It is a matter of funding but it seems the Minister cannot direct that the funding will be allocated to a particular road, regardless of the pressure. It seems that faceless people in Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII or the National Roads Authority, NRA, make that decision. That should not be the case. Like me, the witnesses are elected representatives. Respectable people from the management of the county council have come in here and they would not be seeking the funding if they did not need it. The Minister or the Government should decide on who gets the funding.

I am sorry for taking up the time of the committee but we are entitled to live in rural Ireland as well as those in the eastern side of the country and if this continues the way it is going, the eastern side of the country will tip into the Irish Sea and we will be facing a disaster.