James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

The Minister has proved himself a very weak performer at Cabinet level to allow such a drastic cut in funding for the roads programme. The planned cut will have a devastating effect on the condition of the country's roads. A cut of €36.2 million in funding for county roads is deplorable. Does the Minister realise the serious effect this will have on the quality of our roads? There is also a serious problem with poor signposting on roads, particularly on the recently constructed motorways. It is a major cause of concern to the travelling public.

I also wish to raise the Dublin-Sligo rail line. There is a serious health and safety issue at Edgeworthstown on Sunday evenings because the train travelling from Sligo to Dublin is overcrowded at that junction. This is a threat to the health and safety of the young people travelling back to college at weekends.

See this speech in context