Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

Earlier this year we were, thankfully, 20 deaths down on last year. While every death in a road accident is appalling and regrettable, 70% of all fatal accidents occur on country roads. The Department of Transport's website states that these roads are the economic arteries of local communities, and we all agree. Local and regional roads account for more than 94% of the Irish road network. The Minister has cut €150 million from that network's funding, ranging from Cork to Donegal. The Minister cut €17 million from Cork's local roads fund, €9.7 million from Donegal and €8.8 million from Kildare. If we are serious about safety on our roads and reducing our road deaths, with 70% of all deaths on local roads, how can the Minister stand over cutbacks of €150 million, which mean dangerous bends are not being removed? Even Ministers must know about the serious and significant crumbling of our road structure through out the country. County councillors know about it because they have no funding for it. What will the Minister do about it?

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