Mr. Michael Walsh:

There is no contingency fund. With regard to winter maintenance and reserves and stockpiles of salt, my local authority, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the NRA have procured salt supplies in recent years. We have a stockpile of salt and I am satisfied we are in a healthy position in the case of events such as those which occurred two and three years ago. However, this takes a slice from our roads funding. We have had to up our standards and this has come at a cost with regard to the routine restoration or maintenance of roads.