Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

Where will that money go? Will it stay in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government or will it go to the Department of Transport? Maybe the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Killeen, will include a reply to that question when he concludes the debate.

The community involvement and local improvement schemes are underfunded. This is the case in my county and my Oireachtas colleagues speak about it. If the Department of Transport is going to look after everybody, as we are told, it should give more funding to these schemes.

The Government has often promised safety outside schools, an issue I have raised on many occasions. If the Departments of Transport and of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government are serious about road safety they should be serious about it outside schools. Thousands of kids come out of primary school daily. When these responsibilities are transferred the Department of Transport should urgently carry out a safety audit outside primary schools around the country, working with the local authorities.

I do not want to hear the excuse that the local authorities fall under the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Department must work closely with local authorities. There is no point referring us to the NRA. When I put down questions to the Departments of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, or Transport about the Enniscorthy or Gorey bypasses or the New Ross river crossing I am told the NRA has sole responsibility for them. It is unacceptable that a Deputy cannot get some kind of reply from a Department which is spending taxpayers' money when a taxpayer wants me to get that information. I urge the Minister of State to ensure that roads for which people pay tax are kept in good order and that money is forthcoming for county councils.

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