John Dennehy (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Unfortunately, unlike Deputy Devins, I did not have the opportunity to listen to all of the previous speakers or the Minister of State so I hope I will be forgiven if there is some repetition. Deputy English made some astonishing claims about finances, taxation and various other matters. The most accurate statement he made was that this is a changed country since 1997. It is radically changed. The number of cars on the roads and their standard and quality is something not envisioned in 1997. People could not afford to run such cars then. Cars were old and battered but those are gone and we have a new era. In the past, Deputy Ring and others took some of the credit for previous years but only since 1997 has there been radical change. Deputy English is accurate in that regard.

The primary purpose of the Bill is to enact the changes in the increases in the motor tax rates and trade plate licences as provided for on 12 December. The increase in the standard rate is 12%. There have been a few technical amendments one of which has been discussed at some length — the question of being able to tax a vehicle through electronic means. This is critical. We have talked about such issues for years but nothing was done. Now the Government is taking action because the services have been put in place. People have complained constantly about the three and four hour queues in large cities, in the Cork area in particular. I welcome that we have now taken this step. I compliment the Minister on putting the legislation in place. It will make an enormous difference will save time for a million people or more.

Deputy McCormack was scathing about where the moneys raised from these duties and licences go and ridiculed the term "ring-fencing". I have worked in local government since 1974 and have participated in and led deputations to the Oireachtas to various Ministers over the years seeking funding for non-national roads. We always went home with fairly empty pockets because the Government did not have the money and could not manage to give funding. As part of all-party deputations I visited different Ministers of different parties but we never had a breakthrough until 1998.

That breakthrough was essential because major urban areas such as Cork, Limerick and Waterford were not getting their fair share. Roads in those areas were used by millions of vehicles over the year by people who did not reside in the area or contribute locally. These areas also had some peculiar difficulties. Cork City Council put together a position paper and made a presentation on it but got no action until the previous Government took power.

We must look at the facts and be honest about them. Since 1998, there has been a radical breakthrough. In my area we have completed a programme which started about the end of 1999 when the money started coming through. We have completely resurfaced well over 150 housing estates, something previously unheard of. Prior to that we would have had to borrow to resurface one or two estates and they would have to be in a state of rack and ruin before they were done. The reason for that was because the funding had to come from local contributions. Even then Cork was paying its fair share but I know some areas did not do the same.

Local elections are due shortly and are in everybody's mind at present. In the 1991 local elections, if my memory serves me correctly, three candidates were elected on the issue of potholes. If we think back to the state of the roads in 1991, it was right for people to say they would take some kind of action on the issue and elect pothole candidates. I doubt we will see any pothole candidates being elected next June because they will not find potholes to stand over.

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