Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)

Until now, the local councillors, who have intimate knowledge of non-national roads within their counties, could direct where funds might be spent. As this function will be transferred to the Department of Transport, will it be removed entirely from duly elected members of local authorities? A difficulty has arisen in the House that I foresaw when the dual mandate was abolished. At present, no Member is also a member of a local authority although many have great experience in this regard. However, it is possible that in a few years the House will be filled with individuals who have never been members of local authorities. Therefore, Members must take responsibility in November 2007 for what will happen in future if they allow this Bill to pass in the manner proposed without possessing full knowledge of what will happen or whether the Department of Transport will be answerable for expenditure to members of local authorities in future.

I will raise another issue that has not been clarified as this probably will be the Minister of State's last contribution. What will happen to the money that the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, is able to throw out everywhere in Connemara and other CLÁR areas for the construction of roads? Will this power move to the Department of Transport and will some other Ministers be making such announcements on Galway Bay FM every day, rather than the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs? Alternatively, will he still have a budget to give money indiscriminately to any road he likes within his constituency, provided it is located within a Gaeltacht or CLÁR area? What is the status of the fund in question? Will it be transferred to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government? I raise this issue because some concerned constituents have already asked me questions about how I could allow such legislation to be passed without having such matters clarified.

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