Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Ó Cuív has given me an opportunity and he is right. I am keen to clear the record. I know about Connemara and Mayo. I know how the bigger roads are done. We also have another problem in Mayo in the sense that we have a large number of smaller roads and they may only cost €2,500 or €3,000. However, people qualify for the local improvement scheme and these people are entitled to make an application. It is not a question of the number but rather the funding councils get, how they distribute it and how they want to put it into the scheme. That is a matter for the councils. There will be bigger schemes, smaller schemes and in-between schemes. The important point is that the scheme is up and running. We have put €27 million into the scheme since last September.

Some 1,100 roads will have been done when this scheme is completed. If there are any savings in the Department this year, that is one of the schemes I will be looking at.