Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy is correct in saying the amount of money provided this year is the same as that provided last year. The budget is up 13% on the expenditure last year. There are choices to be made. In his question the Deputy highlighted the answer to his question. While there are problems with roads, there has been a huge improvement in rural roads in the past seven or eight years. The fundamental responsibility for roads rests with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and local authorities. In terms of CLÁR funding we set out to narrow the gap that we perceived existed between small roads in CLÁR areas and those in the rest of the country, to bring the roads in those areas on a par with the others.

We are satisfied that under this measure significant progress will be made during the next three to four years, taking into account the work done in the past two years. If I increase the money for roads, there are other new programmes for which I cannot increase funding. I will certainly spend the whole €13.7 million and, therefore, it is a question of price. A "steady as she goes" policy is very effective. The particular mechanism identified ensures this money is additional in CLÁR areas and it has made a significant difference on the ground in respect of the worst of these small roads.

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